(1) "Arising out of and in the course of his employment" means an accidental injury
happening to an employee or an occupational disease of an employee originating while
the employee has been engaged in the line of the employee's duty in the business or
affairs of the employer upon the employer's premises, or while engaged elsewhere upon
the employer's business or affairs by the direction, express or implied, of the employer,
provided:

(A) (i) For a police officer or firefighter, "in the course of his employment" encompasses such individual's departure from such individual's place of abode to duty, such
individual's duty, and the return to such individual's place of abode after duty;

(ii) For an employee of the Department of Correction, (I) when responding to a direct
order to appear at his or her work assignment under circumstances in which nonessential
employees are excused from working, or (II) following two or more mandatory overtime
work shifts on consecutive days, "in the course of his employment" encompasses such
individual's departure from such individual's place of abode directly to duty, such individual's duty, and the return directly to such individual's place of abode after duty;

(iii) Notwithstanding the provisions of clauses (i) and (ii) of this subparagraph, the
dependents of any deceased employee of the Department of Correction who was injured
in the course of his employment, as defined in this subparagraph, on or after July 1,
2000, and who died not later than July 15, 2000, shall be paid compensation on account
of the death, in accordance with the provisions of section 31-306, retroactively to the
date of the employee's death. The cost of the payment shall be paid by the employer or
its insurance carrier which shall be reimbursed for such cost from the Second Injury
Fund as provided in section 31-354 upon presentation of any vouchers and information
that the Treasurer may require;

(B) A personal injury shall not be deemed to arise out of the employment unless
causally traceable to the employment other than through weakened resistance or lowered
vitality;

(C) In the case of an accidental injury, a disability or a death due to the use of alcohol
or narcotic drugs shall not be construed to be a compensable injury;

(D) For aggravation of a preexisting disease, compensation shall be allowed only
for that proportion of the disability or death due to the aggravation of the preexisting
disease as may be reasonably attributed to the injury upon which the claim is based;

(E) A personal injury shall not be deemed to arise out of the employment if the
injury is sustained: (i) At the employee's place of abode, and (ii) while the employee
is engaged in a preliminary act or acts in preparation for work unless such act or acts
are undertaken at the express direction or request of the employer;

(F) For purposes of subparagraph (C) of this subdivision, "narcotic drugs" means
all controlled substances, as designated by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection
pursuant to subsection (c) of section 21a-243, but does not include drugs prescribed in
the course of medical treatment or in a program of research operated under the direction
of a physician or pharmacologist. For purposes of subparagraph (E) of this subdivision,
"place of abode" includes the inside of the residential structure, the garage, the common
hallways, stairways, driveways, walkways and the yard;

(G) The Workers' Compensation Commission shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this section and
shall define the terms "a preliminary act", "acts in preparation for work", "departure
from place of abode directly to duty" and "return directly to place of abode after duty"
on or before January 1, 2006.

(2) "Commission" means the Workers' Compensation Commission.

(3) "Commissioner" means the compensation commissioner who has jurisdiction
in the matter referred to in the context.

(4) "Compensation" means benefits or payments mandated by the provisions of this
chapter, including, but not limited to, indemnity, medical and surgical aid or hospital and
nursing service required under section 31-294d and any type of payment for disability,
whether for total or partial disability of a permanent or temporary nature, death benefit,
funeral expense, payments made under the provisions of section 31-284b, 31-293a or
31-310, or any adjustment in benefits or payments required by this chapter.

(5) "Date of the injury" means, for an occupational disease, the date of total or
partial incapacity to work as a result of such disease.

(6) "Dependent" means a member of the injured employee's family or next of kin
who was wholly or partly dependent upon the earnings of the employee at the time of
the injury.

(7) "Dependent in fact" means a person determined to be a dependent of an injured
employee, in any case where there is no presumptive dependent, in accordance with the
facts existing at the date of the injury.

(8) "Disfigurement" means impairment of or injury to the beauty, symmetry or
appearance of a person that renders the person unsightly, misshapen or imperfect, or
deforms the person in some manner, or otherwise causes a detrimental change in the
external form of the person.

(9) (A) "Employee" means any person who:

(i) Has entered into or works under any contract of service or apprenticeship with
an employer, whether the contract contemplated the performance of duties within or
without the state;

(ii) Is a sole proprietor or business partner who accepts the provisions of this chapter
in accordance with subdivision (10) of this section;

(iii) Is elected to serve as a member of the General Assembly of this state;

(iv) Is a salaried officer or paid member of any police department or fire department;

(v) Is a volunteer police officer, whether the officer is designated as special or auxiliary, upon vote of the legislative body of the town, city or borough in which the officer
serves;

(vi) Is an elected or appointed official or agent of any town, city or borough in the
state, upon vote of the proper authority of the town, city or borough, including the elected
or appointed official or agent, irrespective of the manner in which he or she is appointed
or employed. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed as affecting any existing
rights as to pensions which such persons or their dependents had on July 1, 1927, or as
preventing any existing custom of paying the full salary of any such person during
disability due to injury arising out of and in the course of his or her employment; or

(vii) Is an officer or enlisted person of the National Guard or other armed forces of
the state called to active duty by the Governor while performing his or her active duty
service.

(B) "Employee" shall not be construed to include:

(i) Any person to whom articles or material are given to be treated in any way on
premises not under the control or management of the person who gave them out;

(ii) One whose employment is of a casual nature and who is employed otherwise
than for the purposes of the employer's trade or business;

(iii) A member of the employer's family dwelling in his house; but, if, in any contract
of insurance, the wages or salary of a member of the employer's family dwelling in his
house is included in the payroll on which the premium is based, then that person shall,
if he sustains an injury arising out of and in the course of his employment, be deemed
an employee and compensated in accordance with the provisions of this chapter;

(iv) Any person engaged in any type of service in or about a private dwelling provided he is not regularly employed by the owner or occupier over twenty-six hours per
week;

(v) An employee of a corporation who is a corporate officer and who elects to be
excluded from coverage under this chapter by notice in writing to his employer and to
the commissioner; or

(vi) Any person who is not a resident of this state but is injured in this state during
the course of his employment, unless such person (I) works for an employer who has a
place of employment or a business facility located in this state at which such person
spends at least fifty per cent of his employment time, or (II) works for an employer
pursuant to an employment contract to be performed primarily in this state.

(10) "Employer" means any person, corporation, limited liability company, firm,
partnership, voluntary association, joint stock association, the state and any public corporation within the state using the services of one or more employees for pay, or the
legal representative of any such employer, but all contracts of employment between an
employer employing persons excluded from the definition of employee and any such
employee shall be conclusively presumed to include the following mutual agreements
between employer and employee: (A) That the employer may accept and become bound
by the provisions of this chapter by immediately complying with section 31-284; (B)
that, if the employer accepts the provisions of this chapter, the employee shall then be
deemed to accept and be bound by such provisions unless the employer neglects or
refuses to furnish immediately to the employee, on his written request, evidence of
compliance with section 31-284 in the form of a certificate from the commissioner, the
Insurance Commissioner or the insurer, as the case may be; (C) that the employee may,
at any time, withdraw his acceptance of, and become released from, the provisions of
this chapter by giving written or printed notice of his withdrawal to the commissioner
and to the employer, and the withdrawal shall take effect immediately from the time of
its service on the commissioner and the employer; and (D) that the employer may withdraw his acceptance and the acceptance of the employee by filing a written or printed
notice of his withdrawal with the commissioner and with the employee, and the withdrawal shall take effect immediately from the time of its service on the commissioner
and the employee. The notices of acceptance and withdrawal to be given by an employer
employing persons excluded from the definition of employee and the notice of withdrawal to be given by the employee, as provided in this subdivision, shall be served
upon the commissioner, employer or employee, either by personal presentation or by
registered or certified mail. In determining the number of employees employed by an
individual, the employees of a partnership of which he is a member shall not be included.
A person who is the sole proprietor of a business may accept the provisions of this
chapter by notifying the commissioner, in writing, of his intent to do so. If such person
accepts the provisions of this chapter he shall be considered to be an employer and shall
insure his full liability in accordance with subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section
31-284. Such person may withdraw his acceptance by giving notice of his withdrawal,
in writing, to the commissioner. Any person who is a partner in a business shall be
deemed to have accepted the provisions of this chapter and shall insure his full liability
in accordance with subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 31-284, unless the partnership elects to be excluded from the provisions of this chapter by notice, in writing
and by signed agreement of each partner, to the commissioner.

(11) "Full-time student" means any student enrolled for at least seventy-five per
cent of a full-time student load at a postsecondary educational institution which has
been approved by a state-recognized or federally-recognized accrediting agency or
body. "Full-time student load" means the number of credit hours, quarter credits or
academic units required for a degree from such institution, divided by the number of
academic terms needed to complete the degree.

(12) "Medical and surgical aid or hospital and nursing service", when requested by
an injured employee and approved by the commissioner, includes treatment by prayer
or spiritual means through the application or use of the principles, tenets or teachings
of any established church without the use of any drug or material remedy, provided
sanitary and quarantine regulations are complied with, and provided all those ministering
to the injured employee are bona fide members of such church.

(13) "Member" includes all parts of the human body referred to in subsection (b)
of section 31-308.

(14) "Nursing" means the practice of nursing as defined in subsection (a) of section
20-87a, and "nurse" means a person engaged in such practice.

(15) "Occupational disease" includes any disease peculiar to the occupation in
which the employee was engaged and due to causes in excess of the ordinary hazards
of employment as such, and includes any disease due to or attributable to exposure to
or contact with any radioactive material by an employee in the course of his employment.

(16) (A) "Personal injury" or "injury" includes, in addition to accidental injury that
may be definitely located as to the time when and the place where the accident occurred,
an injury to an employee that is causally connected with the employee's employment
and is the direct result of repetitive trauma or repetitive acts incident to such employment,
and occupational disease.

(B) "Personal injury" or "injury" shall not be construed to include:

(i) An injury to an employee that results from the employee's voluntary participation
in any activity the major purpose of which is social or recreational, including, but not
limited to, athletic events, parties and picnics, whether or not the employer pays some
or all of the cost of such activity;

(ii) A mental or emotional impairment, unless such impairment arises (I) from a
physical injury or occupational disease, or (II) in the case of a police officer, from such
police officer's use of deadly force or subjection to deadly force in the line of duty,
regardless of whether such police officer is physically injured, provided such police
officer is the subject of an attempt by another person to cause such police officer serious
physical injury or death through the use of deadly force, and such police officer reasonably believes such police officer to be the subject of such an attempt. As used in this
clause, "police officer" means a member of the Division of State Police within the
Department of Public Safety, an organized local police department or a municipal constabulary, and "in the line of duty" means any action that a police officer is obligated
or authorized by law, rule, regulation or written condition of employment service to
perform, or for which the police officer is compensated by the public entity such officer
serves;

(iii) A mental or emotional impairment that results from a personnel action, including, but not limited to, a transfer, promotion, demotion or termination; or

(iv) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (B)(i) of this subdivision, "personal injury" or "injury" includes injuries to employees of local or regional boards of
education resulting from participation in a school-sponsored activity but does not include any injury incurred while going to or from such activity. As used in this clause,
"school-sponsored activity" means any activity sponsored, recognized or authorized by
a board of education and includes activities conducted on or off school property and
"participation" means acting as a chaperone, advisor, supervisor or instructor at the
request of an administrator with supervisory authority over the employee.

(17) "Physician" includes any person licensed and authorized to practice a healing
art, as defined in section 20-1, and licensed under the provisions of chapters 370, 372
and 373 to practice in this state.

(18) "Podiatrist" means any practitioner of podiatry, as defined in section 20-50,
and duly licensed under the provisions of chapter 375 to practice in this state.

(19) "Presumptive dependents" means the following persons who are conclusively
presumed to be wholly dependent for support upon a deceased employee: (A) A wife
upon a husband with whom she lives at the time of his injury or from whom she receives
support regularly; (B) a husband upon a wife with whom he lives at the time of her
injury or from whom he receives support regularly; (C) any child under the age of
eighteen, or over the age of eighteen but physically or mentally incapacitated from
earning, upon the parent with whom he is living or from whom he is receiving support
regularly, at the time of the injury of the parent; (D) any unmarried child who has attained
the age of eighteen but has not attained the age of twenty-two and who is a full-time
student, upon the parent with whom he is living or from whom he is receiving support
regularly, provided, any child who has attained the age of twenty-two while a full-time student but has not completed the requirements for, or received, a degree from a
postsecondary educational institution shall be deemed not to have attained the age of
twenty-two until the first day of the first month following the end of the quarter or
semester in which he is enrolled at the time, or if he is not enrolled in a quarter or semester
system, until the first day of the first month following the completion of the course in
which he is enrolled or until the first day of the third month beginning after such time,
whichever occurs first.

(20) "Previous disability" means an employee's preexisting condition caused by
the total or partial loss of, or loss of use of, one hand, one arm, one foot or one eye
resulting from accidental injury, disease or congenital causes, or other permanent physical impairment.

(21) "Scar" means the mark left on the skin after the healing of a wound or sore,
or any mark, damage or lasting effect resulting from past injury.

(22) "Second disability" means a disability arising out of a second injury.

(23) "Second injury" means an injury, incurred by accident, repetitive trauma, repetitive acts or disease arising out of and in the course of employment, to an employee
with a previous disability.

History: 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; 1967 act redefined "commission" as seven rather than five
commissioners, added exception in definition of "dependent" and redefined "employer" as those employing one or more
rather than two or more persons; 1969 acts redefined "arising out of and in the course of his employment" to include special
provision re policemen and firemen, redefined "physician" to include those practicing a healing art and duly licensed rather
than those practicing as chiropractors, added definition of "podiatrist", redefined "occupational disease" to include diseases
resulting from exposure to or contact with radioactive materials and specified "regularly" employed in Subdiv. (d) of
definition of "employer"; 1972 act included persons elected as members of the general assembly in definition of "employee";
P.A. 77-614 made insurance department a division within the department of business regulation with insurance commissioner as its head, effective January 1, 1979 (See Subsec. (6)); P.A. 78-324 included volunteer police officers in definition
of "employee"; P.A. 79-113 divided section into Subsecs. and redefined "employee" and "employer" to include provisions
re persons who are sole proprietors or partners in a business; P.A. 79-540 redefined "commission" to raise number of
commissioners to eight and defined "compensation review division"; P.A. 80-124 substituted "causally" for "casually" in
Subsec. (8); P.A. 80-284 inserted new Subsec. (13) defining "full-time student" and renumbered former Subsec. (13)
accordingly; P.A. 80-414 redefined "commission" and "compensation review division" to reflect increase in number of
commissioners to nine; P.A. 80-482 reinstated insurance department and deleted reference to abolished department of
business regulation; P.A. 80-483 made technical correction; P.A. 82-398 defined "income", including within it all forms
of remuneration to an individual from his employment; P.A. 84-320 amended Subsecs. (2) and (3) to increase the number
of commissioners to ten; P.A. 85-420 amended Subdivs. (2) and (3) to increase the number of commissioners to eleven;
P.A. 88-184 redefined "commission" and "compensation review division" to reflect an increase in number of commissioners
to thirteen; P.A. 88-364 made a technical change in Subsec. (5); P.A. 91-32 replaced existing definitions with Subdivs.
(1) to (22), inclusive; P.A. 91-339 redefined "commission" in Subsec. (2), deleted definition of "compensation review
division" in former Subsec. (5), deleted reference to Sec. 31-308b from renumbered Subsec. (6), added new Subsec. (8)
defining "disfigurement" and added new Subsec. (21) defining "scar", renumbering as necessary; P.A. 92-31 redefined
"compensation" to delete dependency allowances; P.A. 93-228 redefined "arising out of and in the course of his employment", "employee", "employer" and "personal injury" in Subdivs. (1), (9), (10) and (16), respectively, added definition
of "narcotic drugs" in Subdiv. (1), and deleted definitions of "significant disfigurement" and "significant scar" in Subdivs.
(8) and (21), respectively, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-79 redefined "employer" in Subdiv. (10) to include a limited
liability company, effective May 31, 1995; P.A. 95-262 amended Subdiv. (1) to redefine "arising out of and in the course
of his employment" to exclude as a personal injury, any injury sustained at the employee's place of abode while the
employee is engaged in a preliminary act or acts in preparation for work unless at the express direction or request of the
employer, to define "place of abode" and to require the Workers' Compensation Commission to adopt regulations and to
define "a preliminary act" and "acts in preparation for work", effective July 6, 1995 (Revisor's note: The phrase "the
Workers Compensation Commissioner shall adopt regulations" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "the Workers
Compensation Commission shall adopt regulations" to correct an apparent clerical error in the reference to "Commissioner"); P.A. 96-180 amended Subdivs. (9) and (10) to make technical changes, effective June 3, 1996; P.A. 97-205
amended Subdiv. (16)(B) to define "personal injury" and "school-sponsored activity"; P.A. 99-102 amended Subdiv. (17)
by deleting obsolete reference to chapter 371; P.A. 01-208 amended Subdiv. (1) by making technical changes throughout,
designating existing Subpara. (A) as Subpara. (A)(i), adding Subpara. (A)(ii) re dependents of certain deceased employees
of the Department of Correction and designating portions of existing Subpara. (E) as Subparas. (F) and (G), effective July
13, 2001; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 replaced Commissioner of Consumer Protection with Commissioner of Agriculture
and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby
reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004; P.A. 05-208
amended Subdiv. (16)(B)(ii) to exempt mental or emotional impairment of police officer arising from use of or subjection
to deadly force from general mental or emotional impairment exclusion from definition of "personal injury" or "injury"
and made technical changes throughout Subdiv. (16); P.A. 05-230 amended Subdiv. (1)(A) by adding new clause (ii)
defining "in the course of his employment" for employees of Department of Correction, redesignating existing clause (ii)
as clause (iii) and making a conforming change therein, and amended Subdiv. (1)(G) by requiring Workers' Compensation
Commission to define "departure from place of abode directly to duty" and "return directly to place of abode after duty"
by regulation on or before January 1, 2006; P.A. 05-236 amended Subdiv. (9)(A) by making technical changes in clause
(vi) and adding clause (vii) to redefine "employee" to include members of the National Guard or other armed forces of the
state called to active duty by Governor while performing active duty service, effective July 1, 2005.

See Sec. 31-294h re extent of benefits for mental or emotional impairment of police officers.

Dependent. Dependency is a question of fact. 89 C. 152; 95 C. 165; Id., 674. Father without income is dependent on
minor though his earnings did not exceed the cost of his support. 90 C. 258; 105 C. 423. Cited. 91 C. 231. Cited. 106 C.
235. Cited. 130 C. 658. Cited. 131 C. 202. Cited. 132 C. 171. Adult son able to support his family is not a dependent of
his father. 92 C. 458. Employee's mistress is not a dependent but illegitimate children are. 93 C. 423. Wife living with
husband is presumably supported by him and not dependent of eleven year old son. 95 C. 166. Father who adds son's
wages to invested capital is not dependent. Id., 676. Sister held dependent who relied on decedent's earnings though his
contributions were voluntary and not enforceable. 96 C. 303. Sister held dependent though not living with decedent. 97
C. 113. Employee. A sheriff is not an employee of the state though it pays him a salary. 89 C. 684. Contract of employment
implied. Id. Employee distinguished from independent contractor. 90 C. 447; 95 C. 421; 96 C. 636; 105 C. 545; 107 C.
146. Musicians for a dance on defendant's premises engaged from an orchestra leader held defendant's employees. 92 C.
407. Newspaper reporter is an employee. 94 C. 159. Formerly policemen and firemen were not employees. Id., 403. One
doing personal service to a corporation officer in hope of a tip not an employee of either the corporation or the officer. Id.,
490. Consideration of whether or not one illegally employed is within the act. 95 C. 166. Employee distinguished from
city officer. 96 C. 560. Firemen and policemen included in 1921. 102 C. 340. Tree warden is officer in supervisory duties
and employee when performing manual labor. Id., 573. Burden is on claimant to show that he is employee. 105 C. 551.
"Employer" includes one working for another in return for prior assistance from the other. 102 C. 474. "Outworker" does
not include treasurer taking clerical work home to complete. 105 C. 520. "Personal injury" is a localized abnormal condition
of the body directly and contemporaneously caused by accident. 91 C. 162. Erysipelas caused by frost bite due to employment is compensable. 90 C. 131. Also sunstroke from heat of the work. 93 C. 153; Id., 315. Under the act of 1919 the
injury need not be located at a definite time and place. 98 C. 652. A weakened condition making him susceptible to disease
and injury. Id; 102 C. 10. Weakened resistance is injury only if incapacitating disease results. The act of 1921 broadly
interpreted as to resulting diseases. 103 C. 98; Id., 707; 104 C. 718. These decisions seem to be overthrown by the amendment
of 1927. "Occupational disease" was not compensable in the original act. 90 C. 349; 91 C. 158. "Arising out of and in the
course of his employment". The definition given in the present act overthrows expressions in some of the earlier cases.
First defined. 90 C. 120. Causal connection must exist between the employment and the injury. Id., 119; Id., 309; 92 C.
387. Sufficient if employment creates condition from which the injury arose. 93 C. 587; 100 C. 392. This definition
developed. 92 C. 276; 93 C. 315; 104 C. 712; 105 C. 517; Id., 698. That an employee does work for his employer not
strictly required does not put him out of the "course of his employment". Injuries held compensable received while returning
to work after temporary stoppage. 92 C. 84. Resting on the premises waiting for his turn of work. Id., 277. Being transported
to work by the employer. Id., 91; 93 C. 85; 103 C. 564; 107 C. 505; 108 C. 630. Driving his own car on employer's business.
98 C. 548. When an injury received on the highway is compensable. 105 C. 518; 107 C. 168. Foreman employed on the
highway stepping across the road to speak to a friend. 93 C. 52. Stopping at a company store on the way home. Id., 59.
Lightning stroke while park laborer was under a tree for shelter. 94 C. 12. Employer's pistol fired by a curious office boy.
Id., 264. Stones thrown at employer's glass which employee was trying to protect. Id., 381. Following usual path over
railroad tracks. 95 C. 412. Fall from the scaffold where he worked though due to vertigo. 97 C. 46. Crossing tracks to get
food for employer's dog. 98 C. 289. Traveling salesman injured in hotel fire. Id., 758. Injury by an insane fellow workman
on the premises. 100 C. 377. Policeman going along the highway to police station. 102 C. 342. Hotel manager driving
thief away from the refrigerator. 103 C. 761. Insanity and suicide resulting from close application to library work. 107 C.
60. Compensation refused in the following cases: fighting with a fellow employee. 92 C. 386. Employee, sent by defendant
to a doctor, took short cut across railroad tracks and was killed. 96 C. 343. Taking own route home from work though the
company paid traveling expenses. Id., 355; 105 C. 518. Injury caused by smoking against orders in toilet. 104 C. 334.
Injury from playful push by a visitor. 105 C. 397. Sleeping by permission in employer's barn. Id., 701. Doing work for
oneself on employer's machine during the rest hour. 107 C. 517. Washing car sometimes used in employer's business. Id.,
646. Scarlet fever contracted while in hospital for treatment of compensable injury. 108 C. 148. Claim to compensation
must be based on more than speculation and conjecture. 146 C. 505. When an activity may be an incident of employment.
147 C. 267. "Aggravation of a preexisting disease" may be a personal injury. 90 C. 544. This term defined. 97 C. 552.
Apportionment of the award is not made in case of death. 103 C. 705; (but see the words "or death" added by the amendment
in 1927). Mere susceptibility is not a preexisting disease and "injury" means compensable injury. Id., 726. Syphilis "lighted
up" by fall was compensable. 104 C. 365; (but see the exclusion of syphilis added in 1927). Tuberculosis aggravated by
employee doing any work, but not by the particular employment, not compensable. Id., 711. Aliter, when it is directly
caused by the employment. Id., 726; 105 C. 656. Action denied when excitement aroused in a corporation manager by the
result of a prosecution in court "lighted up" angina pectoris. 108 C. 493. Causal connection between factory conditions
and grippe held too uncertain. 106 C. 365. Employer has burden of proof that preexisting disease contributed to the disability.
103 C. 731; 107 C. 66. Preexisting disease due to former employment by defendant is no mitigation. 107 C. 67. Cited. 110
C. 227. Cited. 112 C. 462. Cited. 114 C. 30; Id., 136. Cited. 125 C. 189. Cited. 127 C. 395. Minor illegally employed is
covered. 131 C. 157. Employee or independent contractor. 121 C. 127; 123 C. 320; 124 C. 433; 126 C. 379. Trade or
business and causal defined. 118 C. 367; 119 C. 224; 129 C. 44. Part or process of trade or business, but injury did not
occur in, on or about premises under control of respondent. 125 C. 109. Statute does not require that time be fixed by
stopwatch or the place by a mathematical point. 119 C. 44. What constitutes occupational disease. 118 C. 29; 128 C. 499.
Tuberculosis not an occupational disease. 121 C. 664. Distinction between employee and independent contractor. 124 C.
433. Status of F.E.R.A. employee. 123 C. 504. Status of relief worker. 126 C. 265. Child employed in violation of law
entitled to compensation. 111 C. 229. Meaning of "accidental injury". 128 C. 608; 131 C. 572; 132 C. 118; Id., 479. Unusual
susceptibility of linotypist. 128 C. 499. Employee killed on property not under control of employer. 130 C. 1; 131 C. 244.
Previous condition of employee immaterial. 123 C. 192; 129 C. 532. Injury must arise out of employment and be causally
traceable to it. 109 C. 378; Id., 473; 115 C. 446; 116 C. 297; 119 C. 1; Id., 170; Id., 248; Id., 694; 122 C. 343; 123 C. 327;
124 C. 355; 129 C. 240; Id., 669; 130 C. 11; 133 C. 78; Id., 614. When bodily injury arises through weakened resistance,
entitled to compensation. 110 C. 248; 129 C. 532. Injury from (pneumonia) weakened resistance does not entitle to compensation. 111 C. 188. Meaning of "through weakened resistance and lowered vitality". 116 C. 186. Litigation neurosis not
compensable. Id., 229. Apportionment for aggravation applied to death cases. 114 C. 389; 121 C. 71. Apportionment for
aggravation of disease applies only to occupational disease. 130 C. 401. Deviation from employment. 132 C. 606. Domestic
away from employer's house. 131 C. 334; Id., 341. Situation in which employee sought gasoline rations for the mutual
benefit of employer and employee. 132 C. 563. Transportation provided by employer. 125 C. 238. Construction of "aggravation of preexisting syphilitic disease". 122 C. 353. Where premises were under defendant's control, plaintiff held to be a
subagent and employee. 134 C. 462. Plaintiffs injured by horseplay held not compensable. Id., 672. Commissioner's
conclusion that claimant was employee of police department sustained. 136 C. 361. An employer may by his dealing with
an employee annex to the actual performance of the work, as an incident of the employment, the going to or departure
from work. 137 C. 134. Cited. Id., 486. If one employee assaults another to gratify his feeling of anger, the resulting injury
does not arise out of the employment. Id., 626. Definitions of independent contractor restated. 138 C. 317. Plaintiff not on
payroll, but paid by quantity, who used his own equipment and occasionally bought supplies for which he was reimbursed,
was employee and not independent contractor, since defendant had general control of work. 148 C. 624. An employee
seeking workmen's compensation has burden of proving that he sustained an injury, not merely in the course of his
employment, but arising out of, that is, caused by, his employment. 150 C. 328. Cited. 154 C. 1, 4. Causal connection
between employee's disability and his work must be established for him to be entitled to compensation. Id., 48, 52. Findings
of fact by hearing commissioner that claimant was injured while using elevator in premises he was cleaning which he had
expressly been forbidden to use would not be disturbed and conclusion claimant was not injured in course of his employment
sustained. 155 C. 214. Benefits under workmen's compensation act are payable only to claimants who have been dependents
of employee whose injury or death is basis of award. 156 C. 245. "Employer" is one customarily using services of two or
more employees and employee who was temporarily sole employee is still to be kept covered under act. Id., 276. Volunteer
firemen are not included in definition of employee in this statute. 159 C. 53. Cited. 162 C. 148. Cited. 163 C. 221. Cited.
165 C. 338, 340. "Injury", as used in the Workmen's Compensation Act, includes an injury to employee which is causally
connected with his employment and is the direct result of repetitive trauma or acts incident to such employment. 168 C.
413. Cited. 175 C. 392. Secs. 31-275 through 31-355 cited. 175 C. 424. Cited. 178 C. 371; Id., 664. Cited. 179 C. 501; Id.,
662. Cited. 182 C. 24. Cited. 187 C. 53. Cited. 204 C. 104. Cited. 208 C. 589. Cited. 221 C. 29. Cited. 223 C. 336. Cited.
227 C. 333; Id., 930. Cited. 229 C. 587. Cited. 231 C. 287. Cited. 241 C. 692. Injury sustained by discharged employee
while retrieving personal belongings compensable as injury sustained in the course of employment. 244 C. 502. Cited as
Workers Compensation Act, Sec. 31-275 et. seq., in accord with prior cases, the determination of whether injury arose out
of and in the course of employment is a question of fact for the commissioner. 245 C. 613. Cited as Workers Compensation
Act, Sec. 31-275 et. seq., the "right to control" test cannot coexist with the "relative nature of work" test; court affirmed
use of "right to control" test. Id. Aggravation of preexisting psychiatric condition due to work-related physical injury may
be a sufficiently distinct and identifiable injury constituting an impairment arising from a compensable work-related
physical injury. 258 C. 137. When read in conjunction with Sec. 31-293a, statute plainly states that emotional distress not
arising from physical injury is not compensable through workers' compensation. 265 C. 21. Question of whether injuries
resulted from incident that occurred in course of employment is a separate and distinct question from whether injuries
arose out of employment. If supported by evidence and not inconsistent with the law, commissioner's inference that injury
did or did not arise out of and in the course of employment is conclusive. 267 C. 583. In-home health care worker comes
within traveling employee exception to "coming and going rule", and injury sustained during travel from her home to
home of patient is injury "arising out of and in the course of his employment". 274 C. 219. Compensation review board
improperly concluded that workers' compensation commissioner lacked jurisdiction over claim because the injury occurred
on navigable waters of the United States and, therefore, federal government had exclusive jurisdiction over the claim under
Art. III, Sec. 2 and Art. I, Sec. 8 of U.S. Constitution and Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, 33 USC
section 901 et seq. State has concurrent jurisdiction with federal government over claims involving injuries incurred on
navigable waters when the employer and employee are locally based, the employment contract is performed within the
state and partly on land, the injury took place on state's territorial waters and the employer was required under the state
act to secure compensation for any land-based injuries incurred by employee. 283 C. 1. Apportionment or proportional
reduction of benefits appropriate when respondent employer is able to prove that disability has resulted from combination
of two concurrently developing disease processes, one that is nonoccupational and the other that is occupational in nature,
and conditions of claimant's occupation have no influence on development of nonoccupational disease. 284 C. 479.

Cited. 3 CA 16. Cited. 32 CA 595. Based on facts presented, plaintiff's injury was compensable when sustained during
a basketball game organized by supervisors during working hours. 91 CA 345. Injured personal care assistant who worked
25.75 hours per week not employee because did not work 26 hours per work as required by Subdiv. (9) definition of
employee. 108 CA 581. The term "employer" does not include the U.S. Postal Service because the federal government
has not expressly consented to the jurisdiction of the Workers' Compensation Act. 111 CA 821; judgment affirmed, see
296 C. 426. Plaintiff's asthma was an occupational disease because his employment was more likely to cause this disease
than would other kinds of employment carried on under same conditions. 115 CA 702.

When the life expectancy of the decedent is less than the term covered by the award. 2 CS 30. Compensation is allowed
only when the preexisting disease is aggravated by the injury; it does not include the situation where the injury is made
more serious because of the preexisting disease. 6 CS 256. Plaintiff injured while being transported to place of employment
by employer on day before her salary began was within the course of her employment. Id., 288. Heart condition is not
necessarily inconsistent with the occurrence of an accident within the concept of the statute. 7 CS 5. One who reported to
a municipal station after each snowfall for employment in snow removal work was not an employee under the act until he
was hired. 12 CS 313. Cited. 13 CS 417. Enlargement of plaintiff's heart not a "personal injury". 14 CS 131. Cited. 15 CS
324. Distinction drawn between "special hazards" test and "arising out of and in the course of his employment". 20 CS
202. Injury sustained as result of playing basketball at company club held not to have arisen out of and in the course of
employment. 24 CS 262.

Employee of partnership not barred because the son lived in the house of a partner. 91 C. 380.

Cited. 21 CA 610.

Subdiv. (1):

Compensation for aggravation of plaintiff's post-traumatic stress disorder is not limited by apportionment provisions
of Subpara. (D). 259 C. 29.

Cited. 41 CA 430. Special policeman appointed pursuant to Sec. 29-18 is not a policeman for purposes of Subpara. (A)
if he has limited authority to arrest or to carry weapons, was not issued a state vehicle, was not entitled to travel pay, and
lacked training required of police officers. 60 CA 707.

Subpara. (B)(iii) cited. 225 C. 165. Cited. 226 C. 508. Term "employee" encompasses illegal alien, thus claim for work-related injury by illegal alien was within jurisdictional confines of Workers' Compensation Act. 244 C. 781. In order to
be "regularly employed" pursuant to Subpara. (B)(iv), a person must work more than twenty-six hours per week during
majority of the fifty-two weeks preceding date of his or her injury. 265 C. 816.

Cited. 29 CA 249.

Subdiv. (10):

Cited. 226 C. 508. Joint venture between two nonprofit organizations may be an employer under the Workers' Compensation Act. 252 C. 641. "Public corporation" signifies corporations organized for a public purpose such as municipalities
and counties and "within the state" means those that are organized and existing pursuant to the laws of this state, therefore
United States Postal Service is not an employer for the purposes of this section and the Workers' Compensation Act. 296
C. 426.

Subdiv. (11):

Cited. 28 CA 226.

Cited. 38 CS 324.

Subdiv. (12):

Cited. 186 C. 623.

Cited. 25 CA 599. Cited. 27 CA 800.

Cited. 39 CS 408.

Subdiv. (14):

Cited. 214 C. 394; Id., 552.

Cited. 24 CA 234. Cited. 44 CA 397.

Subdiv. (15):

Cited. 242 C. 570.

Cited. 38 CA 1. Cited. 41 CA 430. Cited. 42 CA 803.

Subdiv. (16):

Subpara. (A): Exposures to two potentially fatal infectious diseases are compensable injuries under the act. 241 C. 692.
Subpara. (A) cited. 242 C. 570. Subpara. (B)(ii): Although plaintiff police officer suffered an occupational disease pursuant
to Subdiv. (15), his post-traumatic stress disorder is excluded from coverage under this Subdiv. because it did not arise
from a physical injury. 250 C. 65. Legislative intent of subdivision states that mental anguish resulting from sexual assault
would be compensable under workers' compensation. 252 C. 215. Pursuant to Subpara. (A) three types of injuries fall within
definition of "personal injury" and are covered by the act: Accidental injuries, repetitive trauma injuries and occupational
diseases. Id., 596. When aggravation of a preexisting psychiatric condition is direct consequence of a work-related physical
injury, aggravation of the psychiatric condition is, itself, a sufficiently distinct and identifiable injury to constitute "mental
or emotional impairment" that "arises from" compensable work-related physical injury under Subpara. (B)(ii). 259 C. 29.
Subpara. (B): Tort actions for emotional injuries that are not compensable under the act are not barred by exclusivity
provisions of the act. Id., 729.

Subpara. (A) cited. 42 CA 803; 45 CA 707. Decedent's stress-related fatal heart attack was a compensable personal
injury and thus recovery of death benefits was not precluded by terms of statutory provision. 96 CA 207. The social-recreational exception was intended to eliminate coverage under the act for injuries that occurred while an employee was
engaged in voluntary sporting activities or in an act for his or her relaxation or enjoyment on the employer's premises,
such as power walking, even when there was employer approval or acquiescence. 112 CA 492. The term "arises from" in
Subpara. (B)(ii) requires a causal relationship between a physical injury or occupational disease and a claimed mental
impairment in order for the mental impairment to be compensable under the act. 123 CA 372.

Sec. 31-276. Workers' Compensation Commission. Compensation commissioners. Nomination by Governor. Appointment by General Assembly. Terms of
office. Removal. Selection of chairman. (a) There shall be a Workers' Compensation
Commission to administer the workers' compensation system. There shall be sixteen
workers' compensation commissioners. On or before the date of the expiration of the
term of each commissioner or upon the occurrence of a vacancy in the office of any
commissioner for any reason, the Governor shall nominate a competent person to fill
that office. Subsequent to July 1, 1993, each person nominated by the Governor to serve
as a commissioner shall have been a member in good standing of the Connecticut bar
for at least five years preceding the nomination, provided the Governor shall not be
precluded from renominating an individual who has previously served as a commissioner. The commissioners shall, upon nomination by the Governor, be appointed by
the General Assembly as prescribed by law. They shall serve for a term of five years,
but may be removed by impeachment. The Governor shall from time to time select
one of the sixteen commissioners to serve as chairman of the Workers' Compensation
Commission at the pleasure of the Governor. The commissioner selected by the Governor to be chairman shall have previously served as a compensation commissioner in
this state for at least one year.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, on and after
October 1, 1988, any commissioner whose term expires on December thirty-first shall
continue to serve until the next succeeding March thirty-first.

(c) Each nomination made by the Governor to the General Assembly for a compensation commissioner shall be referred, without debate, to the committee on the judiciary,
which shall report thereon within thirty legislative days from the time of reference, but
no later than seven legislative days before the adjourning of the General Assembly.
Each appointment by the General Assembly of a compensation commissioner shall be
by concurrent resolution. The action on the passage of each such resolution in the House
and in the Senate shall be by vote taken on the electrical roll-call device. No resolution
shall contain the name of more than one nominee. The Governor shall, within five days
after he has notice that any nomination for a compensation commissioner made by him
has failed to be approved by the affirmative concurrent action of both houses of the
General Assembly, make another nomination to such office.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 4-19, no vacancy in the position of
a compensation commissioner shall be filled by the Governor when the General Assembly is not in session unless, prior to such filling, the Governor submits the name of the
proposed vacancy appointee to the committee on the judiciary. Within forty-five days,
the committee on the judiciary may, upon the call of either chairman, hold a special
meeting for the purpose of approving or disapproving such proposed vacancy appointee
by majority vote. The Governor shall not administer the oath of office to such proposed
vacancy appointee until the committee has approved such proposed vacancy appointee.
If the committee determines that it cannot complete its investigation and act on such
proposed vacancy appointee within such forty-five-day period, it may extend such period by an additional fifteen days. The committee shall notify the Governor in writing of
any such extension. Failure of the committee to act on such proposed vacancy appointee
within such forty-five-day period or any fifteen-day extension period shall be deemed
to be an approval.

(e) Each commissioner shall be sworn to a faithful performance of his duties. After
notice and public hearing the Governor may remove any commissioner for cause and
the good of the public service. Each compensation commissioner shall devote his full
time to the duties of his office and shall not be otherwise gainfully employed.

History: 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; 1964 act revised districts along other than congressional district
lines; 1965 act raised number of commissioners from 5 to 7, consisting of one for each of the six congressional districts
and one at-large commissioner; 1969 act raised number of commissioners to 8 and revised districts to be those created
under Sec. 31-275b rather than congressional districts; 1971 act required commissioners to devote full time to duties of
office; P.A. 80-414 increased number of commissioners to 9, created position of chairman of the board and specified his
qualifications and appointment procedure; P.A. 83-353 amended Subsec. (a) to provide that the governor shall "nominate"
rather than "appoint" the commissioners, added Subsec. (b) re the procedure for appointment by the general assembly and
added Subsec. (c) re the procedure for the nomination and appointment of commissioners to fill vacancies while the general
assembly is not in session, deleting prior provision whereby governor was solely responsible for filling vacancies; P.A.
84-320 amended Subsec. (a) to provide for 10 commissioners, and to provide that the commissioner from the new eighth
district shall be nominated by the governor on or before January 1, 1985; P.A. 84-546 made technical change, referring to
"houses" rather than "branches" of the general assembly; P.A. 85-420 amended Subsec. (a) to increase the number of at-large commissioners from one to two; P.A. 87-301 revised Subsec. (a) by eliminating references to specific appointments
of commissioners commencing January first and July first and rewording appointment provisions, adding provision re
appointment by general assembly as prescribed by law and removal by impeachment; P.A. 88-125 inserted new Subsec.
(b) to specify that term of any commissioner on and after October 1, 1988, whose term expires on December thirty-first
shall continue to serve until next succeeding March thirty-first; and relettered remaining Subsecs.; P.A. 88-184 amended
Subsec. (a) to provide for 13 commissioners, including 4 commissioners at large, and to provide that the 2 commissioners
at large shall be nominated by the governor on or before October 1, 1988; P.A. 91-339 amended Subsec. (a) by adding
provisions re workers' compensation commission, changing number of commissioners from 13 to 14, deleting provisions
re district and at large commissioners and the chairman of the board of compensation commissioners, adding requirement
that not less than two commissioners reside in each U.S. congressional district and adding provisions re selection of the
chairman of the workers' compensation commission; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-12 amended Subsec. (a) by changing the
required period that the chairman must serve as a compensation commissioner prior to selection by the governor from
three years to two years; P.A. 92-176 amended Subsec. (a) to provide that the commissioner selected to be chairman shall
have served as a compensation commissioner for at least one year, rather than two years; P.A. 93-228 amended Subsec.
(a) to increase the number of workers' compensation commissioners from 14 to 16 and to provide that persons nominated
as commissioners shall have been members of the Connecticut bar for at least five years, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 94-193, effective October 1, 1994, and May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, effective July 1, 1994, both made a technical correction
in Subsec. (a) by amending a provision changing the number of workers' compensation commissioners from 14 to 16
which was omitted from P.A. 93-228; P.A. 96-72 amended Subsec. (a) to eliminate the requirement that not less than two
commissioners reside in each United States congressional district, effective May 8, 1996; P.A. 07-29 amended Subsec.
(d) to increase from 10 to 45 days the time period after submission of nomination that judiciary committee is authorized
to hold a special meeting, prohibit the Governor administering the oath of office to an appointee until committee has
approved such appointee, authorize committee to extend the 45-day period by an additional 15 days if committee cannot
complete investigation and act within the 45-day period, require committee to notify the Governor in writing of extension
and replace "such ten-day period" with "such forty-five day period or any fifteen-day extension period", effective July 1,
2007; P.A. 10-32 made a technical change in Subsec. (b), effective May 10, 2010.

See Sec. 31-278 re powers and duties of commissioners.

The commissioner is not a court; some of his acts are quasi-judicial and some wholly administrative. 89 C. 148.
Appointment of commissioner unaffected by subsequent resignation of governor. 133 C. 687.

Sec. 31-277. Salary of compensation commissioners. Longevity payments. (a)
Each commissioner shall, during his first year of service as a commissioner, receive an
annual salary of six thousand dollars less than the highest step level of a Superior Court
judge; during his second year of service as a commissioner, each commissioner shall
receive an annual salary of five thousand dollars less than the highest step level of a
Superior Court judge; during his third year of service as a commissioner, he shall receive
an annual salary of four thousand dollars less than the highest step level of a Superior
Court judge; during his fourth year of service as a commissioner, he shall receive an
annual salary of three thousand dollars less than the highest step level of a Superior
Court judge; during his fifth year of service as a commissioner, he shall receive an annual
salary of two thousand dollars less than the highest step level of a Superior Court judge;
and during his sixth year of service as a commissioner, he shall receive an annual salary
of one thousand dollars less than the highest step level of a Superior Court judge, together
with his necessary clerical, office and travel expenses as approved by the Comptroller;
and the chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission shall receive in addition
ten thousand dollars annually. Each commissioner shall devote his entire time to the
duties of his office and shall not be otherwise gainfully employed.

(b) Each commissioner, who has completed not less than ten years of service as a
commissioner, or other state service or service as an elected officer of the state, or any
combination of such service, shall receive semiannual longevity payments based on
service completed as of the first day of July and the first day of January of each year as
follows:

(1) A commissioner who has completed ten or more years but less than fifteen years
of service shall receive one-quarter of three per cent of the annual salary payable under
subsection (a) of this section.

(2) A commissioner who has completed fifteen or more years but less than twenty
years of service shall receive one-half of three per cent of the annual salary payable
under subsection (a) of this section.

(3) A commissioner who has completed twenty or more years but less than twenty-five years of service shall receive three-quarters of three per cent of the annual salary
payable under subsection (a) of this section.

(4) A commissioner who has completed twenty-five or more years of service shall
receive three per cent of the annual salary payable under subsection (a) of this section.

History: 1959 act raised commissioners' salary from $13,500 to $15,000; 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions;
1965 act increased commissioners' salary to $17,500; 1969 act replaced specific salary with provision calling for salaries
"in an amount equal to that paid to a judge of the court of common pleas"; P.A. 76-436 called for salaries of $6,000 less
than the "highest step level of a superior court judge", effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 79-540 replaced single salary figure
with schedule of salaries fixed according to years of service; P.A. 84-399 amended section by adding Subsec. (b) re
longevity payments; P.A. 91-32 deleted obsolete references to July 1, 1979, and made technical changes; P.A. 93-379
amended Subsec. (b) to permit credit for longevity purposes for other state service or service as an elected official of the
state or any combination of service, effective June 30, 1993; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 00-1 amended Subsec. (a) to increase
additional compensation of chairman from $1,000 annually to $10,000 annually, effective July 1, 2000.

Sec. 31-278. Powers and duties of commissioners. Each commissioner shall, for
the purposes of this chapter, have power to summon and examine under oath such witnesses, and may direct the production of, and examine or cause to be produced or examined, such books, records, vouchers, memoranda, documents, letters, contracts or other
papers in relation to any matter at issue as he may find proper, and shall have the same
powers in reference thereto as are vested in magistrates taking depositions and shall
have the power to order depositions pursuant to section 52-148. He shall have power
to certify to official acts and shall have all powers necessary to enable him to perform
the duties imposed upon him by the provisions of this chapter. Each commissioner
shall hear all claims and questions arising under this chapter in the district to which the
commissioner is assigned and all such claims shall be filed in the district in which the
claim arises, provided, if it is uncertain in which district a claim arises, or if a claim
arises out of several injuries or occupational diseases which occurred in one or more
districts, the commissioner to whom the first request for hearing is made shall hear and
determine such claim to the same extent as if it arose solely within his own district. If
a commissioner is disqualified or temporarily incapacitated from hearing any matter,
or if the parties shall so request and the chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission finds that it will facilitate a speedier disposition of the claim, he shall designate
some other commissioner to hear and decide such matter. The Superior Court, on application of a commissioner or the chairman or the Attorney General, may enforce, by
appropriate decree or process, any provision of this chapter or any proper order of a
commissioner or the chairman rendered pursuant to any such provision. Any compensation commissioner, after ceasing to hold office as such compensation commissioner,
may settle and dispose of all matters relating to appealed cases, including correcting
findings and certifying records, as well as any other unfinished matters pertaining to
causes theretofore tried by him, to the same extent as if he were still such compensation
commissioner.

History: 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; 1965 act added exceptions to residency requirement, established
sixth district office in New Britain and revised list of towns which serve as hearing locations; 1969 act deleted references
to "congressional" districts, established seventh district office in Stamford and revised list of towns which serve as hearing
locations; 1971 act deleted exceptions to residency requirement which had existed for fourth district commissioner and
which had stated that at-large commissioner must reside in a town of the state, added proviso re jurisdiction in cases where
there is uncertainty as to district in which claim arises, allowed designation of other than usual commissioner to hear claims
if parties request it and commissioner finds it will aid speedy disposition; P.A. 73-152 revised list of towns which serve
as hearing locations; P.A. 76-80 empowered commissioners "to order depositions pursuant to section 52-148"; P.A. 80-414 added provision re board chairman's maintenance of an office; P.A. 81-472 made technical changes; P.A. 82-289
referred to Norwich as a town rather than as a city; P.A. 84-320 provided that the commissioner for the eighth district shall
maintain an office in Middletown, and that hearings in the district shall be held in Middletown; P.A. 91-339 deleted
provisions re commissioners residing in assigned districts and requirements re office locations and changed certain references to "commission" to read "chairman", effective July 1, 1992.

Commissioner has jurisdiction only in his own district unless local commissioner is "disqualified or incapacitated";
cannot act by consent of parties. 99 C. 236. Powers of commissioners are purely statutory. 108 C. 33. Contract made in
this state, to be performed in another state, governed by our law. 111 C. 696. No jurisdiction to determine rights between
employer and two insurance companies. 113 C. 504; 120 C. 503. When acting commissioner is disqualified, commissioner
in whose district accident occurred has jurisdiction to name commissioner to act further. 118 C. 29. Cited. 129 C. 594.
Cited. 132 C. 172. Cited. 133 C. 668. Cited. 218 C. 46. Cited. 232 C. 758. Section does not give commissioner subject
matter jurisdiction over insurance coverage issues that require application of laws other than provisions of the Workers'
Compensation Act. 248 C. 754. Because of the use of "may" instead of "shall", commissioners are permitted, not required,
to continue to hear cases subsequent to their retirement. 251 C. 153.

(b) The chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission shall, not later than
July 1, 1991, adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to create a uniform system
to be used by medical professionals in determining the degree of physical impairment
of persons receiving compensation under this chapter.

(c) (1) Any employer or any insurer acting on behalf of an employer, may establish
a plan, subject to the approval of the chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission under subsection (d) of this section, for the provision of medical care that the
employer provides for treatment of any injury or illness under this chapter. Each plan
shall contain such information as the chairman shall require, including, but not limited to:

(A) A listing of all persons who will provide services under the plan, along with
appropriate evidence that each person listed has met any licensing, certification or registration requirement necessary for the person to legally provide the service in this state;

(B) A listing of all pharmacies that will provide services under the plan, to which
the employer, any insurer acting on behalf of the employer, or any other entity acting
on behalf of the employer or insurer shall make direct payments for any prescription
drug prescribed by a physician participating in the plan;

(C) A designation of the times, places and manners in which the services will be
provided;

(D) A description of how the quality and quantity of medical care will be managed; and

(E) Such other provisions as the employer and the employees may agree to, subject
to the approval of the chairman.

(2) The election by an employee covered by a plan established under this subsection
to obtain medical care and treatment from a provider of medical services who is not
listed in the plan shall suspend the employee's right to compensation, subject to the
order of the commissioner.

(d) Each plan established under subsection (c) of this section shall be submitted to
the chairman for his approval at least one hundred twenty days before the proposed
effective date of the plan and each approved plan, along with any proposed changes
therein, shall be resubmitted to the chairman every two years thereafter for reapproval.
The chairman shall approve or disapprove such plans on the basis of standards established by the chairman in consultation with a medical advisory panel appointed by the
chairman. Such standards shall include, but not be limited to: (1) The ability of the plan
to provide all medical and health care services that may be required under this chapter
in a manner that is timely, effective and convenient for the employees; (2) the inclusion
in the plan of all categories of medical service and of an adequate number of providers
of each type of medical service in accessible locations to ensure that employees are
given an adequate choice of providers; (3) the provision in the plan for appropriate
financial incentives to reduce service costs and utilization without a reduction in the
quality of service; (4) the inclusion in the plan of fee screening, peer review, service
utilization review and dispute resolution procedures designed to prevent inappropriate
or excessive treatment; and (5) the inclusion in the plan of a procedure by which information on medical and health care service costs and utilization will be reported to the
chairman in order for him to determine the effectiveness of the plan.

(e) Any person who serves as a member of the medical advisory panel, appointed
by the chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission pursuant to subsection
(d) of this section, shall be deemed to be a state officer or employee for purposes of
indemnification and defense under section 5-141d.

Sec. 31-279a. Booklet to be distributed explaining act. The chairman of the
Workers' Compensation Commission shall prepare, publish and distribute an illustrated
booklet explaining, in informal and readily understandable language, employee benefits
and responsibilities under the Workers' Compensation Act. The chairman shall prepare,
publish and distribute revisions to such booklet whenever changes in the workers' compensation law necessitate such revision.

Sec. 31-280. Chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission. Powers
and duties. Budget. Report of expenses. (a) There shall continue to be a chairman of
the Workers' Compensation Commission selected by the Governor as provided in section 31-276. The chairman may not hear any matter arising under this chapter, except
appeals brought before the Compensation Review Board and except as provided in
subdivision (14) of subsection (b) of this section. The chairman shall prepare the forms
used by the commission, shall have custody of the insurance coverage cards, shall prepare and keep a list of self-insurers, shall prepare the annual report to the Governor and
shall publish, when necessary, bulletins showing the changes in the compensation law,
with annotations to the Connecticut cases. The chairman shall be provided with sufficient
staff to assist him in the performance of his duties. The chairman may, within available
appropriations, appoint acting compensation commissioners on a per diem basis from
among former workers' compensation commissioners or qualified members of the bar
of this state. Any acting compensation commissioner appointed under this subsection
shall be paid on a per diem basis in an amount to be determined by the Commissioner
of Administrative Services, subject to the provisions of section 4-40, and shall have all
the powers and duties of compensation commissioners. The Workers' Compensation
Commission shall not be construed to be a commission or board subject to the provisions
of section 4-9a.

(b) The chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission shall:

(1) Establish workers' compensation districts and district offices within the state,
assign compensation commissioners to the districts to hear all matters arising under this
chapter within the districts and may reassign compensation commissioners once each
year, except that when there is a vacancy, illness or other emergency, or when unexpected
caseload increases require, the chairman may reassign compensation commissioners
more than once each year;

(2) Adopt such rules as the chairman, in consultation with the advisory board, deems
necessary for the conduct of the internal affairs of the Workers' Compensation Commission;

(3) Adopt regulations, in consultation with the advisory board and in accordance
with the provisions of chapter 54, to carry out his responsibilities under this chapter;

(4) Prepare and adopt an annual budget and plan of operation in consultation with
the advisory board;

(5) Prepare and submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly;

(6) Allocate the resources of the commission to carry out the purposes of this
chapter;

(7) Establish an organizational structure and such divisions for the commission,
consistent with this chapter, as the chairman deems necessary for the efficient and
prompt operation of the commission;

(8) Establish policy for all matters over which the commission has jurisdiction,
including rehabilitation, education, statistical support and administrative appeals;

(9) Appoint such supplementary advisory panels as the chairman deems necessary
and helpful;

(10) Establish, in consultation with the advisory board, (A) an approved list of practicing physicians, surgeons, podiatrists, optometrists and dentists from which an injured
employee shall choose for examination and treatment under the provisions of this chapter, which shall include, but not be limited to, classifications of approved practitioners
by specialty, and (B) standards for the approval and removal of physicians, surgeons,
podiatrists, optometrists and dentists from the list by the chairman;

(11) (A) Establish standards in consultation with the advisory board for approving
all fees for services rendered under this chapter by attorneys, physicians, surgeons,
podiatrists, optometrists, dentists and other persons;

(B) In consultation with employers, their insurance carriers, union representatives,
physicians and third-party reimbursement organizations establish, not later than October
1, 1993, and publish annually thereafter, a fee schedule setting the fees payable by an
employer or its insurance carrier for services rendered under this chapter by an approved
physician, surgeon, podiatrist, optometrist, dentist and other persons, provided the fee
schedule shall not apply to services rendered to a claimant who is participating in an
employer's managed care plan pursuant to section 31-279. On and after April 1, 2008,
the chairman shall implement and annually update relative values based on the Medicare
resource-based relative value scale and implement coding guidelines in conformance
with the Correct Coding Initiative used by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services. The conversion to the Medicare resource-based relative value scale shall be
revenue-neutral. The fee schedule shall limit the annual growth in total medical fees to
the annual percentage increase in the consumer price index for all urban workers. The
chairman may make necessary adjustments to the fee schedule for services rendered
under this chapter where there is no established Medicare resource-based relative value.
Payment of the established fees by the employer or its insurance carrier shall constitute
payment in full to the practitioner, and the practitioner may not recover any additional
amount from the claimant to whom services have been rendered;

(C) Issue, not later than October 1, 1993, and publish annually thereafter, guidelines
for the maximum fees payable by a claimant for any legal services rendered by an
attorney in connection with the provisions of this chapter, which fees shall be approved
in accordance with the standards established by the chairman pursuant to subparagraph
(A) of this subdivision;

(12) Approve applications for employer-sponsored medical care plans, based on
standards developed in consultation with a medical advisory panel as provided in section
31-279;

(13) Establish procedures for the hiring, dismissing or otherwise disciplining and
promoting employees of the commission, subject where appropriate to the provisions
of chapter 67;

(14) Control the hearing calendars of the compensation commissioners, and if necessary, preside over informal hearings in regard to compensation under the provisions
of this chapter in order to facilitate the timely and efficient processing of cases;

(15) Enter into contracts with consultants and such other persons as necessary for
the proper functioning of the commission;

(16) Direct and supervise all administrative affairs of the commission;

(17) Keep and maintain a record of all advisory board proceedings;

(18) Assign and reassign a district manager and other staff to each of the commission's district offices;

(20) Direct and supervise the implementation of a uniform case filing and processing system in each of the district offices that will include, but not be limited to, the
ability to provide data on the number of cases having multiple hearings, the number of
postponed hearings and hearing schedules for each district office;

(21) Establish staff development, training and education programs designed to improve the quality of service provided by the commission, including, but not limited to,
a program to train district office staff in the screening of hearing requests;

(22) Develop standard forms for requesting hearings and standard policies regarding limits on the number of informal hearings that will be allowed under this chapter,
and limits on the number of postponements that will be permitted before a formal hearing
is held pursuant to section 31-297;

(23) Develop guidelines for expediting disputed cases;

(24) Establish an ongoing training program, in consultation with the advisory board,
designed to assist the commissioners in the fulfillment of their duties pursuant to the
provisions of section 31-278, which program shall include instruction in the following
areas: Discovery, evidence, statutory interpretation, medical terminology, legal decision
writing and the purpose and procedures of informal and formal hearings;

(25) Evaluate, in conjunction with the advisory board, the performance of each
commissioner biannually and, notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of section 1-210 and chapter 55, make the performance evaluation of any commissioner available only to the Governor, the members of the joint standing committee on the judiciary
and the respective commissioner prior to any public hearing on the reappointment of
any such commissioner. Any information disclosed to such persons shall be used by
such persons only for the purpose for which it was given and shall not be disclosed to
any other person;

(26) (A) In consultation with insurers and practitioners, establish not later than
October 1, 1993, and publish annually thereafter, practitioner billing guidelines for employers, workers' compensation insurance carriers and practitioners approved by the
chairman pursuant to subdivision (10) of this subsection. The guidelines shall include
procedures for the resolution of billing disputes and shall prohibit a practitioner from
billing or soliciting payments from a claimant for services rendered to the claimant
under the provisions of this chapter (i) during a payment dispute between the practitioner
and the employer or its workers' compensation insurance carrier, or (ii) in excess of the
maximum fees established pursuant to subparagraph (B) of subdivision (11) of this
subsection;

(B) In consultation with practitioners and insurers, develop not later than July 1,
1994, practice protocols for reasonable and appropriate treatment of a claimant under
the provisions of this chapter, based on the diagnosis of injury or illness. The commission
shall annually publish the practice protocols for use by approved practitioners, employers, workers' compensation insurance carriers and commissioners in evaluating the necessity and appropriateness of care provided to a claimant under the provisions of this
chapter;

(C) In consultation with practitioners and insurers, develop not later than July 1,
1994, utilization review procedures for reasonable and appropriate treatment of a claimant under the provisions of this chapter. The chairman shall annually publish the procedures for use by approved practitioners, employers, workers' compensation insurance
carriers and commissioners in evaluating the necessity and appropriateness of care provided to a claimant under the provisions of this chapter.

(c) The chairman, as soon as practicable after April first of each year, shall submit
to the Comptroller an estimated budget of expenditures which shall include all direct
and indirect costs incurred by the Workers' Compensation Commission for the succeeding fiscal year commencing on July first next. The Workers' Compensation Commission, for the purposes of administration, shall not expend more than the amounts
specified in such estimated budget for each item of expenditure except as authorized
by the Comptroller. The chairman shall include in his annual report to the Governor a
statement showing the expenses of administering the Workers' Compensation Act for
the preceding fiscal year.

(d) The chairman and the Comptroller, as soon as practicable after August first in
each year, shall ascertain the total amount of expenses incurred by the commission,
including, in addition to the direct cost of personnel services, the cost of maintenance
and operation, rentals for space occupied in state leased offices and all other direct and
indirect costs, incurred by the commission during the preceding fiscal year in connection
with the administration of the Workers' Compensation Act and the total noncontributory
payments required to be made to the Treasurer towards commissioners' retirement salaries as provided in sections 51-49, 51-50, 51-50a and 51-50b. An itemized statement of
the expenses as so ascertained shall be available for public inspection in the office of
the chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission for thirty days after notice to
all insurance carriers, and to all employers permitted to pay compensation directly affected thereby.

History: 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; 1969 act deleted requirement that chairman publish a digest
of compensation decisions and added Subsecs. (b) and (c) re budget and record of expenditures; 1971 acts substituted
"disposition" of business for "dispensation" of business in Subsec. (a) and required inclusion of "noncontributory payments
required to be made to the treasurer towards commissioners' retirement salaries" as part of expenses incurred under Subsec.
(c); P.A. 77-614 transferred power to appoint at-large commissioner from personnel policy board to commissioner of
administrative services "subject to the provisions of section 4-40"; P.A. 78-303 specified that commission is not a commission or board subject to Sec. 4-9a in Subsec. (a); P.A. 79-376 replaced "workmen's compensation" with "workers' compensation"; P.A. 79-540 specified that chairman of board of compensation commissioners is also chairman of compensation
review division in Subsec. (a); P.A. 80-414 clarified duties of chairman as administrative, granting him powers to control
hearing calendars to expedite processing of claims and power to hear matters and required that chairman be provided with
sufficient staff to perform his duties in Subsec. (a); P.A. 90-116 amended Subsec. (a) to allow for the appointment of
temporary commissioners at the discretion of any commissioner within available appropriations; P.A. 91-339 changed
"board of compensation commissioners" to "workers' compensation commission", deleted provisions re chairman of
the compensation review division, added provisions re hearing of matters by the chairman, and deleted provisions re
administrative nature of the chairman's duties, commissioners at large and the chairman's control over the hearing calendars
of the commissioners in Subsec. (a), added new Subsec. (b) re powers and duties of the chairman of the workers' compensation commission, redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c) and required estimated budget to include all direct and
indirect costs incurred by the commission, redesignated existing Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (d) and made technical changes;
P.A. 93-228 amended Subsec. (b) to apply provisions to optometrists, to require chairman to establish medical fee schedule,
attorney fee guidelines, commissioner training program, medical billing guidelines, practice protocols and utilization
review procedures, to evaluate commissioners' performance and, when necessary, to preside over informal workers' compensation hearings, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 97-205 amended Subsec. (b)(1) to permit the chairman to reassign compensation commissioners; P.A. 07-31 amended Subsec. (b)(11)(B) by including fees for additional providers in fee schedule
and adding provisions re Medicare resource-based relative value scale and coding guidelines used by Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services as bases for fee schedule.

See Sec. 31-277 re salaries of compensation commissioners.

Cited. 232 C. 758.

Cited. 36 CA 150. Section provides a broad grant of power to chairman to adopt regulations to carry out his responsibilities under the act. 55 CA 129.

Subsec. (b):

Commissioner is authorized to make a determination on case which he has presided over even after he has been transferred to another district. 47 CA 391.

Sec. 31-280a. Advisory Board of the Workers' Compensation Commission.
(a) There shall be an Advisory Board of the Workers' Compensation Commission to
advise the chairman on matters concerning policy for and the operation of the commission. The advisory board shall consist of eight members, who shall be appointed by the
Governor, with the advice and consent of the General Assembly. Four of such members
shall represent employees and four shall represent employers. One of such members
representing employees shall be an individual who has suffered an extensive disability
arising out of and in the course of his employment. One of such members representing
employers shall be a representative of a major general hospital in the state. On or before
January 1, 1992, the Governor shall appoint, and the General Assembly shall confirm,
such members of the advisory board as follows: Two shall serve a term of four years
from said date, one of whom shall represent employees and one of whom shall represent
employers; two shall serve a term of three years from said date, one of whom shall
represent employees and one of whom shall represent employers; two shall serve a term
of two years from said date, one of whom shall represent employees and one of whom
shall represent employers; and two shall serve a term of one year from said date, one of
whom shall represent employees and one of whom shall represent employers. Thereafter
such members shall be appointed for a term of four years from January first in the year
of their appointment. Any vacancy on the advisory board shall be filled for the remainder
of the term in the same manner as the original appointment. The chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission shall serve as an ex-officio member of the advisory
board without the power to vote.

(b) The appointed members of the advisory board shall select a ninth member who
shall be impartial and shall serve as the chairman of the advisory board. The members
of the advisory board shall serve without compensation. Each member shall be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred by the member in the performance of his duties.
The advisory board shall not be construed to be a board or commission subject to the
provisions of section 4-9a. The Workers' Compensation Commission shall provide such
staff as is necessary for the performance of the functions and duties of the advisory
board.

(c) The advisory board shall meet at least twice in each calendar quarter and at such
other times as the chairman or the chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission
deem necessary. All actions of the advisory board shall require the affirmative vote of
six members of the advisory board. The advisory board may bring any matter related
to the operation of the workers' compensation system to the attention of the chairman
of the Workers' Compensation Commission. The advisory board may adopt any rules
of procedure that the board deems necessary to carry out its duties under this chapter.

(d) The advisory board shall submit its written recommendations concerning the
reappointment of each compensation commissioner to the Governor and the General
Assembly not later than three months before the expiration of the term of the commissioner.

Sec. 31-280b. Compensation Review Board. (a) There shall be a Compensation
Review Board within the Workers' Compensation Commission. The chairman of the
Workers' Compensation Commission shall serve as chief of the Compensation Review
Board and shall have responsibility for the operation of the board. On or before January
1, 1992, the chairman shall appoint a chief clerk of the Compensation Review Board
under the provisions of chapter 67 who shall be responsible to the chairman for the
efficient operation of the board.

(b) The board shall review appeals of decisions made by compensation commissioners pursuant to this chapter. The chief shall annually select two compensation commissioners to sit with him to hear such appeals for a term of one year, except that no commissioner may sit in review of an award or decision rendered by him. The chief may select
a third compensation commissioner to sit on the board if one of the board members is
disqualified or temporarily incapacitated from hearing the matter under review.

(c) No compensation commissioner except the chief may serve as a member of the
Compensation Review Board for more than one year during the term for which he was
appointed.

Sec. 31-283. Annual pension upon retirement of commissioner. Any compensation commissioner, in the state service as such commissioner twenty or more years
in the aggregate, who leaves such service because of failure of reappointment, or because
of abolition of his position, shall, during the remainder of his life, receive an annual
pension payable from the General Fund equal to fifty per cent of his average annual
salary for the five years next preceding his retirement. The compensation commissioners
may continue to contribute to the State Employees Retirement Fund and shall be entitled
to general retirement rights under chapter 66. The acceptance of the pension herein
provided for shall be in lieu of all benefits under the State Employees Retirement Act,
and any commissioner accepting a pension under this section shall not be entitled to the
return of any payments made by him to the State Employees Retirement Fund.

Sec. 31-283a. Rehabilitation programs for employees suffering compensable
injuries. (a) The Workers' Compensation Commission shall provide rehabilitation programs for employees suffering compensable injuries within the provisions of this chapter, which injuries disabled them from performing their customary or most recent work.
The chairman shall establish rehabilitation programs which shall best suit the needs
of injured employees and shall make the programs available in convenient locations
throughout the state. After consultation with the Labor Commissioner, the chairman
may establish fees for the programs, so as to provide the most effective rehabilitation
programs at a minimum rate. In order to carry out the provisions of this section, the
chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 and, subject to the provisions of chapter 67,
provide for the employment of necessary assistants.

(b) The chairman shall be authorized to (1) enter into agreements with other state
or federal agencies to carry out the purposes of this section and expend money for that
purpose, and (2) on behalf of the state of Connecticut, develop matching programs or
activities to secure federal grants or funds for the purposes of this section and may pledge
or use funds supplied from the administrative costs fund, as provided in section 31-345,
to finance the state's share of the programs or activities.

History: P.A. 79-376 replaced "workmen's compensation" with "workers' compensation"; P.A. 85-133 required that
the commission adopt regulations on or before October 1, 1986, concerning the operations of the division of workers'
rehabilitation; P.A. 91-32 designated existing section as Subsec. (a), made technical changes and added Subsecs. (b) and
(c), re method of financing cost of rehabilitation division and re director's powers; P.A. 91-339 amended Subsec. (a) by
requiring that the director be appointed by the chairman of the workers' compensation commission, that the chairman
approve the establishment of fees and that the director report to the chairman, and by authorizing the chairman to adopt
regulations, deleted Subsec. (b), redesignated Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (b) and made technical changes; P.A. 95-265 amended
Subsec. (a) by eliminating the Division of Workers Rehabilitation and the full-time salaried director, transferring to Workers
Compensation Commission chairman the authority to establish rehabilitation programs, and to cap funds appropriated for
rehabilitation program to no more than $550,000 and made technical corrections in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 1995;
P.A. 96-216 amended Subsec. (a) to make a technical correction concerning approval of the chairman before establishing
fees and removed the limitation on the amount of funds used as grants to implement the section, effective June 4, 1996.

Sec. 31-283d. Adjustment of salary of certain retired commissioners. On July
1, 1971, the retirement salary of each person retired prior to July 1, 1965, under the
provisions of section 31-283 or any predecessor statute shall be increased in the amount
of that percentage of the monthly retirement salary being paid to him on June 30, 1967,
which was provided under section 5-162b for members of the state employees retirement
system who retired in the same year as such person. On July 1, 1972, and annually
thereafter, the retirement salary of each such person shall be adjusted to reflect increases
or decreases in the Consumer Price Index in the same manner and to the same extent
that the retirement salary of persons retired under chapter 66 is adjusted under section
5-162c.

Sec. 31-283e. Election of retirement benefits. Any compensation commissioner
holding such office on July 1, 1971, may elect to be included within the provisions of
sections 51-49, 51-50, 51-50a and 51-50b or to continue to be subject to the provisions
of section 31-283.

Sec. 31-283f. Statistical Division. (a) A Statistical Division shall be established
within the Workers' Compensation Commission. The division shall compile and maintain statistics concerning occupational injuries and diseases, voluntary agreements, status of claims and commissioners' dockets. The division shall be administered by a full-time salaried director who shall be appointed by the chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission under the provisions of chapter 67. The director shall report to the
chairman.

(b) Sufficient funding for the establishment and maintenance of the Workers' Compensation Statistical Division shall be supplied from the Administrative Costs Fund, as
provided in section 31-345.

(P.A. 81-407, S. 1-5; P.A. 91-339, S. 9, 55.)

History: P.A. 91-339 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provisions re full-time director and deleted Subsecs. (c) and (d)
which had required formation of plan for efficient use of statistical division in compiling information and had established
an advisory panel.

Sec. 31-283g. Education services for employees concerning the prevention of
occupational diseases and injuries. The Workers' Compensation Commission shall
provide, in convenient locations throughout the state, education services to employees
concerning the prevention of occupational diseases and injuries, training for nonmanagement employees in workers' compensation procedures and substantive rights, information to employers concerning known and suspected workplace hazards and training
and information for medical professionals in workers' compensation procedures, standards and requirements. The chairman shall be provided with sufficient staff to assist
him in the performance of his duties. The chairman of the Workers' Compensation
Commission may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54,
to implement the provisions of this section.

Sec. 31-284. Basic rights and liabilities. Civil action to enjoin noncomplying
employer from entering into employment contracts. Notice of availability of compensation. (a) An employer who complies with the requirements of subsection (b) of
this section shall not be liable for any action for damages on account of personal injury
sustained by an employee arising out of and in the course of his employment or on
account of death resulting from personal injury so sustained, but an employer shall
secure compensation for his employees as provided under this chapter, except that compensation shall not be paid when the personal injury has been caused by the wilful and
serious misconduct of the injured employee or by his intoxication. All rights and claims
between an employer who complies with the requirements of subsection (b) of this
section and employees, or any representatives or dependents of such employees, arising
out of personal injury or death sustained in the course of employment are abolished
other than rights and claims given by this chapter, provided nothing in this section
shall prohibit any employee from securing, by agreement with his employer, additional
compensation from his employer for the injury or from enforcing any agreement for
additional compensation.

(b) Each employer who does not furnish to the chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission satisfactory proof of his solvency and financial ability to pay directly
to injured employees or other beneficiaries compensation provided by this chapter shall
insure his full liability under this chapter, other than his liability for assessments pursuant
to sections 31-345 and 31-354 in one of the following ways: (1) By filing with the
Insurance Commissioner in form acceptable to him security guaranteeing the performance of the obligations of this chapter by the employer; or (2) by insuring his full liability
under this part, exclusive of any liability resulting from the terms of section 31-284b,
in any stock or mutual companies or associations that are or may be authorized to take
such risks in this state; or (3) by any combination of the methods provided in subdivisions
(1) and (2) of this subsection as he may choose, subject to the approval of the Insurance
Commissioner. If the employer fails to comply with the requirements of this subsection,
an employee may bring an action against such employer for damages on account of
personal injury sustained by such employee arising out of and in the course of his employment or on account of death resulting from personal injury so sustained, except that
there shall be no liability under this section to an individual on the part of the employer
if such individual held himself out to the employer as an independent contractor and
the employer, in good faith, relied on that representation as well as other indicia of such
status and classified such individual as an independent contractor. In case of an alleged
noncompliance with the provisions of this subsection, a certificate of noncompliance
under oath, by the chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission, shall constitute
prima facie evidence of noncompliance.

(c) Each employer who does not furnish to the chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission satisfactory proof of his solvency and financial ability to pay directly
to the State Treasurer the assessments required in sections 31-345 and 31-354 shall
insure his full liability for the assessments in one of the following ways: (1) By filing
with the Insurance Commissioner in form acceptable to him security guaranteeing the
payment of the assessments by the employer; (2) by insuring his full liability for the
assessments in any stock or mutual companies or associations that are or may be authorized to take such risks in this state; or (3) by any combination of the methods provided
in subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection as he may choose, subject to the approval
of the Insurance Commissioner. The payment of the assessments required under sections
31-345 and 31-354 is a condition of doing business in this state and failure to pay the
assessments, when due, shall result in the denial of the privilege of doing business in
this state or to self-insure under subsections (b) and (c) of this section. If the liability
for the assessments is insured, the insurance shall be by endorsement to a policy meeting
all of the requirements of the Insurance Commissioner, or by a separate policy insuring
the liability for the assessments, and otherwise meeting all of the requirements of the
Insurance Commissioner. In the case of any employer who files acceptable security
guaranteeing the liability for the assessments, failure to pay the assessments, when due,
shall result in the denial of the privilege to self-insure under subsections (b) and (c) of
this section.

(d) Any employer to whom a certificate of self-insurance has been issued pursuant
to this section who fails or is unable to pay any compensation mandated by the provisions
of this chapter, thereby requiring payment from the Second Injury Fund pursuant to
section 31-355, shall be prohibited from self-insuring his liability under this chapter for
a period of ten years from the date of the payment. The employer shall be required during
the ten-year period to insure his full liability under this part, exclusive of any liability
resulting from the terms of section 31-284b, in any stock or mutual companies or associations that are or may be authorized to take such risks in this state. Failure to so insure
his liability shall result in the denial of the privilege of doing business in this state.

(e) Whenever an employer fails to comply with the requirements of subsection (b)
of this section, the Attorney General may bring a civil action in the superior court for
the judicial district of Hartford to enjoin the employer, until such time as he fully complies with such requirements, from entering into any contracts of employment as a result
of which he will employ additional employees.

(f) Each employer subject to the provisions of this chapter shall post, in a conspicuous place, a notice of the availability of compensation, in type of not less than ten-point
boldface. The notice shall contain, at a minimum, the information required by regulations
adopted pursuant to section 31-279.

History: 1959 act increased fine from $100 to $250, required that fines be paid over to second injury and assurance
fund or its successor and replaced references to specific sections, parts, etc. with references to chapter; 1961 act entirely
replaced previous provisions; 1967 act added proviso protecting employee's right to secure additional benefits from employer in Subsec. (a); P.A. 77-614 placed insurance commissioner within the department of business regulation and made
insurance department a division within that same department, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-482 reinstated insurance
division as an independent department with commissioner as its head following abolition of department of business regulation; P.A. 82-398 excluded liability resulting from terms of Sec. 31-284b in Subsec. (b)(2); P.A. 85-184 amended Subsec.
(b) to require that proof of solvency be filed by employers with the board of compensation commissioners, rather than
with an individual commissioner; P.A. 85-189 added Subsec. (c), which establishes the liability of employers for the
assessments required for the various funds under workers' compensation, and permits the purchasing of insurance for such
liabilities; P.A. 85-349 added Subsec. (d), which prohibits employers from self-insuring their workers' compensation
liability for 10 years if payment from the second injury fund has been required; P.A. 86-165 added Subsec. (e), empowering
the attorney general to bring a civil action to enjoin any employer who doesn't comply with the issuance requirements of
the section from entering into new employment contracts; P.A. 86-403 made technical change in Subsec. (c); P.A. 88-230
replaced "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain" with "judicial district of Hartford", effective September 1, 1991; P.A.
90-98 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; P.A. 91-32 made technical
changes and added Subsec. (f) re notice of the availability of compensation; P.A. 91-339 changed "board of compensation
commissioners" to "chairman of the workers' compensation commission" and made technical changes; P.A. 93-142
changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A.
95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995;
P.A. 96-65 amended Subsec. (a) to exempt employers who comply with the requirements of Subsec. (b) from liability and
amended Subsec. (b) to allow an employee to bring an action against an employer who fails to comply with the subsection,
replacing provision imposing $1,000 fine; P.A. 96-216 amended Subsec. (b) to change the penalty for an employer from
a fine to the penalties in Subsecs. (c) and (d) of Sec. 31-288, effective June 4, 1996, but failed to take effect, P.A. 96-65
having deleted the penalty provision in its entirety.

Cited. 27 CS 280. Action in negligence, against insurer of employer who has paid compensation to plaintiff employee
for failure of insurer to inspect dangerous machinery in shop, is precluded by merger of identities of employer and insurer
and policy of workmen's compensation acts. 28 CS 1. Cited. 30 CS 126. An employer cannot be sued as a joint tortfeasor
by a third party whom his employee is suing for negligence, absent a separate contractual relation with third party. 31 CS
322. The Workmen's Compensation Act is not a bar to indemnity where such a right can be predicated on some legal
relationship between the third party and employer giving rise to a duty on the part of the employer to the third party which
is either contractually or tortiously breached. 32 CS 96. Cited. 38 CS 359; Id., 607. Cited. 39 CS 408. Cited. 42 CS 168.

Cited. 2 CA 363. Cited. 3 CA 40. Cited. 6 CA 60. Cited. 28 CA 660. Cited. 32 CA 16. Cited. 45 CA 324. Cited. 46 CA
699. Employee is barred from bringing negligence claim against employer. 52 CA 1. Court applied standard of "substantial
causative factor" to the affirmative defense of willful and serious misconduct, declining to apply a standard of "sole
proximate cause". 56 CA 215. Exception to exclusive remedy provision of subsec. did not apply where plaintiff's complaint
did not allege that city of New Haven intended to injure plaintiff or that the city directed or authorized city employee to
injure plaintiff. 92 CA 558. Defendants' ordering deceased employees to enter oxygen-deficient manhole without safety
equipment did not constitute willful misconduct because plaintiffs failed to establish substantial certainty of decedents'
deaths or that defendants knew of dangers of confined space entry. 100 CA 781. Although exclusivity provision speaks
solely in terms of employers, the Supreme Court has extended provision's protection in the context of the workers' compensation claims process to insurers and third party administrators, therefore plaintiff's action against "independent third
party" is barred. 122 CA 230.

Not a bar to an action for indemnification by a bailee against an employer where the action is based on breach of a
warranty of fitness under the bailment contract. 32 CS 210. Cited. Id., 213. Breach of an independent duty is sufficient to
overcome the defense based on the Workmen's Compensation Act. Id., 214. In absence of special relationship, workmen's
compensation is the exclusive remedy against an employer. 35 CS 268. Cited. 38 CS 324. Cited. 39 CS 250. Police officer
struck by uninsured motorist while directing traffic in course of his employment was not "occupying" a motor vehicle for
purposes of Sec. 38a-336(f) and is therefore limited to workers' compensation benefits. 51 CS 326; judgment affirmed,
see 117 CA 656.

Sec. 31-284a. State contracting with private insurance carrier. Duties and
powers of Commissioner of Administrative Services. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 4a-19 and 4a-20 to the contrary, the Commissioner of Administrative
Services shall solicit proposals from any management firm engaged in the business of
administering workers' compensation claims, or from any authorized mutual insurance
company or stock company or subsidiary thereof writing workers' compensation or
employer's liability insurance in this state, for the purposes of administering the workers'
compensation claims filed against the state, or of insuring the state's full liability under
workers' compensation and administering such claims. The commissioner may, at said
commissioner's discretion, reject any or all of such proposals if they are deemed to be
inadequate to effectively serve the needs of the state concerning workers' compensation.

(b) The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, which establish the fees payable by this state
for its employees under the provisions of this chapter, based on the medical procedure,
combination of procedures or diagnosis of the patient, provided the fee schedule shall
not apply to services rendered to a claimant who is participating in the state's managed
care plan. The regulations shall limit annual growth in total medical fees payable by the
state to no more than the annual percentage increase in the consumer price index for all
urban workers. Said commissioner may exclude from participation in the state workers'
compensation managed care program any medical provider found, through a systematic
program of utilization review, to exceed generally accepted standards of the scope,
duration or intensity of services rendered to patients with similar diagnostic characteristics. The state shall not make any payment to a facility owned in whole or in part by the
referring practitioner.

(c) The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall have sole responsibility for
establishing procedures for all executive branch agencies participating in the state of
Connecticut workers' compensation program, except that all mandatory subjects of collective bargaining pertaining to modified or alternative duty shall continue to be governed by the provisions of chapter 68.

Sec. 31-284b. Employer to continue insurance coverage or welfare plan payments for employees eligible to receive workers' compensation. Use of Second Injury Fund. (a) In order to maintain, as nearly as possible, the income of employees
who suffer employment-related injuries, any employer who provides accident and health
insurance or life insurance coverage for any employee or makes payments or contributions at the regular hourly or weekly rate for full-time employees to an employee welfare
plan, shall provide to the employee equivalent insurance coverage or welfare plan payments or contributions while the employee is eligible to receive or is receiving compensation pursuant to this chapter, or while the employee is receiving wages under a provision for sick leave payments for time lost due to an employment-related injury. As used
in this section, "income" means all forms of remuneration to an individual from his
employment, including wages, accident and health insurance coverage, life insurance
coverage and employee welfare plan contributions and "employee welfare plan" means
any plan established or maintained for employees or their families or dependents, or for
both, for medical, surgical or hospital care benefits.

(b) An employer may provide such equivalent accident and health or life insurance
coverage or welfare plan payments or contributions by: (1) Insuring his full liability
under this section in any stock or mutual companies or associations that are or may be
authorized to take such risks in this state; (2) creating an injured employee's plan as an
extension of any existing plan for working employees; (3) self-insurance; or (4) by
any combination of the methods provided in subdivisions (1) to (3), inclusive, of this
subsection that he may choose.

(c) In the case of an employee welfare plan, an employer may provide equivalent
protection by making payments or contributions for such hours of contributions established by the trustees of the employee welfare plan as necessary to maintain continuation
of such insurance coverage when the amount is less than the amount of regular hourly
or weekly contributions for full-time employees.

(d) In any case where compensation payments to an individual for total incapacity
under the provisions of section 31-307 continue for more than one hundred four weeks,
the cost of accident and health insurance or life insurance coverage after the one-hundred-fourth week shall be paid out of the Second Injury Fund in accordance with the
provisions of section 31-349.

(e) Accident and health insurance coverage may include, but shall not be limited
to, coverage provided by insurance or directly by the employer for the following health
care services: Medical, surgical, dental, nursing and hospital care and treatment, drugs,
diagnosis or treatment of mental conditions or alcoholism, and pregnancy and child care.

Cited. 16 CA 660. Dependents' benefits are part of workers' income to be maintained by employer. 24 CA 234. Cited.
40 CA 409. Cited. 44 CA 397. Board incorrectly interpreted section as requiring city to continue insurance coverage
for plaintiff and his family once plaintiff's compensation payments under Sec. 7-433c ended. 61 CA 9. Definition of
"compensation" in Sec. 31-293 inapplicable to section as it existed on date of plaintiff's injury. Id. Payments by city for
plaintiff's medical care did not constitute compensation payment required by statute or regulation and did not trigger
benefits under section. Id.

Subsec. (a):

Cited. 214 C. 394.

Term "compensation payments" as used in subsection as it existed on date of plaintiff's injury does not include payments
for medical care after the indemnity compensation period has ceased. 61 CA 9. Term "compensation payments" as used
in Subsec. does not include payments for medical care after the indemnity compensation period has ceased. Plaintiff
accordingly was not entitled to benefits pursuant to section. 81 CA 339.

Sec. 31-284c. Complaints of violations. Hearing. Findings and award. Appeal.
Any employee eligible to receive or receiving workers' compensation may file a complaint alleging violation of the provisions of section 31-284b with the workers' compensation commissioner. The commissioner shall hold a hearing in accordance with the
provisions of sections 31-297 and 31-298. After the hearing, the commissioner shall
send to each party a written copy of his findings and award in accordance with the
provisions of section 31-300. The provisions of section 31-300 concerning finality of
the award and an execution issued upon the award shall be applicable to an award made
pursuant to this section. Any appeal of an award of the commissioner under this section
shall be taken in accordance with the provisions of section 31-301. The commissioner,
in awarding benefits for temporary and permanent partial and total disability, shall require the provision of equivalent insurance coverage or contribution to an employee
welfare plan, as provided in section 31-284b, for the period of the injured employee's
eligibility to receive benefits under this chapter.

(P.A. 82-398, S. 5; P.A. 91-339, S. 13.)

History: P.A. 91-339 required the commissioner to send each party a written copy of his findings and changed "employee
welfare fund" to "employee welfare plan".

Sec. 31-285. Substitute systems of compensation. With the approval of the state
Insurance Commissioner, any employer may enter into an agreement with his employees
to provide a system of compensation, benefit and insurance in lieu of the compensation
and insurance provided by this chapter. No such substitute system shall be approved
unless it confers benefits upon injured employees at least equivalent to the benefits
provided by this chapter, nor shall any such substitute system be approved which contains an obligation of employees to join in it as a condition of employment unless it
contains equitable provision for the withdrawal of employees from it and the distribution
of its assets. If any such system requires contributions from employees, it shall not be
approved unless it confers benefits in addition to those provided under this chapter at
least commensurate with such contributions. The Insurance Commissioner, having
given his approval of such substitute system, shall have over it all the jurisdiction given
him by sections 38a-14 and 38a-17 over insurance companies. He may withdraw his
approval upon reasonable notice to the employer and order a distribution of the assets,
subject to the right of any party in interest to take an appeal to the superior court for the
judicial district of Hartford.

History: 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; P.A. 77-614 made insurance department a division within the
department of business regulation with insurance commissioner as its head, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-280 replaced
"Hartford county" with "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain"; P.A. 80-482 reinstated insurance division as independent department with insurance commissioner as its head following abolition of department of business regulation; P.A.
88-230 replaced "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain" with "judicial district of Hartford", effective September 1,
1991; P.A. 90-98 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; P.A. 93-142
changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A.
95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995.

Sec. 31-286. Certificate of employer's compliance. Any employer who has complied with the provisions of section 31-285 by entering into an agreement with his employees to provide a system of compensation, benefit and insurance in lieu of the compensation and insurance provided by this chapter, which agreement has been approved
by the Insurance Commissioner, or any employer who has complied with the provisions
of section 31-284 by filing with the Insurance Commissioner security guaranteeing the
performance of his obligation under this chapter or by insuring his full liability or by a
combination of the two last-named methods approved by the Insurance Commissioner,
may file, in the office of the commissioner who may have jurisdiction in case of injury,
a certificate of the Insurance Commissioner stating that such substitute system has been
approved or that such security guaranteeing the performance of the obligations of this
chapter has been filed with and accepted by the Insurance Commissioner or that a combination of the methods stated in section 31-284 has been approved. Any employer who
has insured his full liability may file a certificate, in the manner prescribed in section
31-348, setting forth such fact and stating the date of expiration of such insurance,
which certificate shall thereupon become a part of the records of the office of such
compensation commissioner.

History: 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; P.A. 77-614 made insurance department a division within the
department of business regulation with commissioner as its head, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-482 restored insurance
division as independent department and abolished department of business regulation.

Sec. 31-286a. Insurance requirements for contractors on public works projects and renewals of state business licenses. (a) Notwithstanding any provision of any
general statute, special act, charter or ordinance, neither the state, or its agents, nor any
political subdivision of the state, or its agents, may enter into any contract on or after
October 1, 1986, for the construction, remodeling, refinishing, refurbishing, rehabilitation, alteration or repair of any public works project before receiving from each of the
other parties to such contract (1) sufficient evidence of compliance with the workers'
compensation insurance and self-insurance requirements of subsection (b) of section
31-284, and (2) a current statement from the State Treasurer that, to the best of his
knowledge and belief, as of the date of the statement, the particular party was not liable
to the state for any workers' compensation payments made pursuant to section 31-355.

(b) On and after October 1, 1986, no state department, board or agency may renew
a license or permit to operate a business in this state unless the applicant first presents
sufficient evidence of current compliance with the workers' compensation insurance
coverage requirements of section 31-284.

(c) This section shall not be construed to create any liability on the part of the
state or any political subdivision thereof to pay workers' compensation benefits or to
indemnify the Second Injury Fund, any employer or any insurer who pays workers'
compensation benefits.

(d) For purposes of this section, "sufficient evidence" means (1) a certificate of
self-insurance issued by a workers' compensation commissioner pursuant to section 31-284, (2) a certificate of compliance issued by the Insurance Commissioner pursuant to
section 31-286, (3) a certificate of insurance issued by any stock or mutual insurance
company or mutual association authorized to write workers' compensation insurance
in this state or its agent, or (4) in lieu of a physical certificate of insurance being presented
for the issuance or renewal of licenses and permits issued by the Department of Consumer Protection, the entrance by the applicant on the renewal form of the name of the
insurer, insurance policy number, effective dates of coverage, and a certification that
the same is truthful and accurate.

History: P.A. 91-207 made a technical change to fund's name in Subsec. (c); P.A. 09-104 amended Subsec. (d) by
adding Subdiv. (4) re entrance of specified information on Department of Consumer Protection license or permit renewal
form in lieu of presentation of physical certificate of insurance and by making technical changes, effective June 2, 2009;
P.A. 10-9 amended Subsec. (d)(4) to change "renewals" to "the issuance or renewal" of licenses and permits, effective
May 5, 2010.

Sec. 31-286b. Proof of workers' compensation coverage prior to issuance of
building permit, condition. (a) Prior to issuing a building permit pursuant to section
29-263 to any person other than a sole proprietor or property owner unless such sole
proprietor or property owner is acting as a general contractor or principal employer, a
local building official shall require proof of workers' compensation coverage for all
employees, as defined in section 31-275, who are employed by an employer, as defined
in said section, who are engaged to perform services on the site of the construction
project for which the permit was issued.

(b) As used in subsection (a) of this section, "proof of workers' compensation coverage" means (1) a written certificate of insurance provided by the general contractor or
principal employer, (2) a certificate from the Workers' Compensation Commissioner
indicating that the general contractor or principal employer has properly chosen not to
obtain workers' compensation coverage pursuant to section 31-275, or (3) if a property
owner or sole proprietor intends to act as a general contractor or principal employer, a
written certificate of insurance or a sworn notarized affidavit, which he shall provide,
stating that he will require proof of workers' compensation insurance for all those employed on the job site in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. A local building
official shall require proof of workers' compensation coverage only at the time of the
general contractor's or principal employer's initial application.

Sec. 31-287. Provisions required in liability insurance policies. No policy of
insurance against liability under this chapter, except as provided in section 31-284, shall
be made unless the same covers the entire liability of the employer thereunder and
contains an agreement by the insurer that, as between the employee and the insurer,
notice or knowledge of the occurrence of injury by the insured shall be deemed notice
or knowledge by the insurer, that jurisdiction of the insured for the purposes of this
chapter shall be jurisdiction of the insurer and the insurer shall in all things be bound
by and subject to the findings, awards and judgments rendered against such insured;
and also that, if the insured becomes insolvent or is discharged in bankruptcy during
the period that the policy is in operation, or the compensation, or any part of it, is due
and unpaid or if an execution upon a judgment for compensation is returned unsatisfied,
an injured employee or other person entitled to compensation under the provisions of
this chapter may enforce his claim to compensation against the insurer to the same
extent that the insured could have enforced his claim against such insurer had he paid
compensation.

History: 1959 act revised applicability re employer's insurance by reducing number of regular employees from three
to two and replaced references to specific sections and parts with references to chapter; 1961 act entirely replaced previous
provisions.

(b) (1) Whenever through the fault or neglect of an employer or insurer, the adjustment or payment of compensation due under this chapter is unduly delayed, such employer or insurer may be assessed by the commissioner hearing the claim a civil penalty
of not more than one thousand dollars for each such case of delay, to be paid to the
claimant. (2) Whenever either party to a claim under this chapter has unreasonably, and
without good cause, delayed the completion of the hearings on such claim, the delaying
party or parties may be assessed a civil penalty of not more than five hundred dollars
by the commissioner hearing the claim for each such case of delay. Any appeal of a
penalty assessed pursuant to this subsection shall be taken in accordance with the provisions of section 31-301.

(c) Whenever an investigator in the investigations unit of the office of the State
Treasurer, whether initiating an investigation at the request of the custodian of the Second Injury Fund, the Workers' Compensation Commission, or a commissioner, finds
that an employer is not in compliance with the insurance and self-insurance requirements
of subsection (b) of section 31-284, such investigator shall issue a citation to such employer requiring him to obtain insurance and fulfill the requirements of said section and
notifying him of the requirement of a hearing before the commissioner and the penalties
required under this subsection. The investigator shall also file an affidavit advising the
commissioner of the citation and requesting a hearing on such violation. The commissioner shall conduct a hearing, after sufficient notice to the employer and within thirty
days of the citation, wherein the employer shall be required to present sufficient evidence
of his compliance with said requirements. Whenever the commissioner finds that the
employer is not in compliance with said requirements he shall assess a civil penalty of
not less than five hundred dollars per employee or five thousand dollars, whichever is
less and not more than fifty thousand dollars against the employer.

(d) In addition to the penalties assessed pursuant to subsection (c) of this section,
the commissioner shall assess an additional penalty of one hundred dollars for each day
after the finding of noncompliance that the employer fails to comply with the insurance
and self-insurance requirements of subsection (b) of section 31-284. Any penalties assessed under the provisions of this subsection shall not exceed fifty thousand dollars in
the aggregate.

(e) The chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission shall notify the State
Treasurer and the Attorney General of the imposition of any penalty, the date it was
imposed, the amount and whether there has been an appeal of said penalty. Any civil
penalty order issued pursuant to subsection (c) or (d) of this section shall state that
payment shall be made to the Second Injury Fund of the State Treasurer, and that failure
to pay within ninety days may result in civil action to double the penalty. The State
Treasurer shall collect any penalty owed, and if the penalty is not paid within ninety
days, the State Treasurer shall notify the chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission and the Attorney General so that civil action may be brought pursuant to section
31-289. Any appeal of a penalty assessed pursuant to the provisions of subsections (c)
and (d) of this section shall be taken in accordance with the provisions of section 31-301. The chairman shall adopt regulations for the commissioners to use in setting fines
which shall require the commissioners to take into account the nature of the employer's
business and his number of employees.

(f) When any employer knowingly and wilfully fails to comply with the insurance
and self-insurance requirements of subsection (b) of section 31-284, such employer, if
he is an owner, in the case of a sole proprietorship, a partner, in the case of a partnership,
a principal, in the case of a limited liability company or a corporate officer, in the case
of a corporation, shall be guilty of a class D felony.

(g) Any employer who (1) has failed to meet the requirements of subsection (b) or
(c) of section 31-284, or (2) with the intent to injure, defraud or deceive any insurance
company insuring the liability of such employer under this chapter or the state of Connecticut because of failure to pay workers' compensation assessments in accordance
with the provisions of section 31-345 or Second Injury Fund assessments in accordance
with the provisions of section 31-354, (A) knowingly misrepresents one or more employees as independent contractors, or (B) knowingly provides false, incomplete or misleading information to such company concerning the number of employees, for the
purpose of paying a lower premium on a policy obtained from such company, shall be
guilty of a class D felony and shall be subject to a stop work order issued by the Labor
Commissioner in accordance with section 31-76a.

History: P.A. 84-299 added Subsec. (b), providing for penalties of up to $500 for each case by a party of undue delay
in the completion of hearings or the adjustment or payment of compensation; P.A. 86-174 added Subsec. (c), establishing
a civil penalty to be assessed against employers who don't comply with the insurance requirements of Sec. 31-284; P.A.
93-228 added Subsec. (d) to provide that employer which defrauds its workers' compensation insurance carrier for the
purpose of paying a lower premium is guilty of a class D felony, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-419 made technical changes
in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-277 amended Subsec. (c) to provide for specific procedures, penalties and
hearings associated with the failure of an employer to comply with insurance and self-insurance requirements, to make
assessment of civil penalty mandatory, to impose minimum penalty of not less than $500 per employee or $5,000 whichever
is less and to increase maximum penalty from $10,000 to $50,000, inserted new Subsecs. (d) re additional penalty after
the noncompliance finding, (e) re monthly transfer of penalty funds by the chairman of the Workers' Compensation
Commission to the custodian of the Second Injury Fund, appeal procedure and regulations to use in setting fines, and (f)
classifying knowing and wilful violations as a class D felony and relettered the existing Subsecs. (d) to (f), effective July
1, 1995; P.A. 96-267 amended Subsec. (e) to require the chairman to notify the State Treasurer and Attorney General when
penalties are imposed and when penalties are not paid within 90 days to give notice of the prescribed method of payment
and to give notice of potential double penalties for nonpayment; P.A. 07-80 amended Subsec. (b) by increasing penalty
for undue delay of payment or adjustment of compensation by employer or insurer and making technical changes; P.A.
07-89 amended Subsec. (g) by extending penalty under subsection to failure to meet requirements of Sec. 31-284(b),
subjecting violators to stop work order and making technical changes; P.A. 10-12 amended Subsec. (g) by adding reference
to Sec. 31-284(c) in Subdiv. (1) and by adding "or the state of Connecticut because of failure to pay workers' compensation
assessments in accordance with the provisions of section 31-345 or Second Injury Fund assessments in accordance with
the provisions of section 31-354" in Subdiv. (2).

See Sec. 52-570e re action for damages resulting from violation of chapter.

Sec. 31-289. Disposition of fines and penalties. Violations under section 31-284
and subsection (a) of section 31-288 shall be prosecuted in the appropriate court. Any
fines or penalties collected under the provisions of sections 31-284 and 31-288 shall be
paid over to the Second Injury Fund or its successor.

(1961, P.A. 491, S. 12; P.A. 84-299, S. 2; P.A. 91-207, S. 3, 9.)

History: P.A. 84-299 provided that penalties collected pursuant to "subsection (a)" of section 31-288 shall be paid into
the second injury and compensation assurance fund; P.A. 91-207 made a technical change in fund's name.

Sec. 31-289a. Civil action to recover civil penalties. Privileged assignment for
trial. (a) If any civil penalty imposed pursuant to any provision of this chapter is not
paid within ninety days of its imposition by a workers' compensation commissioner,
or within ninety days of the final disposition of an appeal, as the case may be, the
chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission shall immediately notify the Attorney General of such failure to pay. Upon such notification, the Attorney General may
bring a civil action in the name of the state of Connecticut in the superior court for the
judicial district where the commissioner imposed the civil penalty, to recover double
the amount of the civil penalty together with reasonable attorney's fees and costs as
taxed by the court. Any recovery under this section shall be disbursed in the same manner
as recoveries pursuant to section 31-355.

(b) An affidavit sworn to or affirmed by the chairman of the Workers' Compensation
Commission, or by the commissioner who imposed the civil penalty referred to in the
affidavit, stating the name of the commissioner who imposed the civil penalty, the
amount of the civil penalty, the name of the violator against whom the civil penalty was
imposed, whether or not an appeal was taken, the disposition of the appeal and whether
or not the penalty was paid, shall constitute prima facie proof of the facts contained in
the affidavit. Copies of the records of the Workers' Compensation Commission, or of
any commissioner, certified by said chairman or by the commissioner having custody
of the records, containing the name of the commissioner who imposed a civil penalty,
the amount of the civil penalty, the name of the violator against whom the civil penalty
was imposed, whether or not an appeal was taken, the disposition of the appeal and
whether or not the penalty was paid, shall constitute prima facie proof of the facts contained in the records.

(c) Civil actions pursuant to this section shall be privileged in their assignment
for trial.

History: P.A. 93-228 effective July 1, 1993. (Revisor's note: P.A. 88-230, P.A. 90-98 and P.A. 93-142 authorized
substitution of "judicial district of Hartford" for "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain" in public acts of the 1993
session of the general assembly, to take effect September 1, 1996); P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230
from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-267 deleted the word "repeatedly" which
modified "fails to comply".

Sec. 31-290. Obligations not to be evaded. No contract, expressed or implied, no
rule, regulation or other device shall in any manner relieve any employer, in whole or
in part, of any obligation created by this chapter, except as herein set forth.

Sec. 31-290a. Discharge or discrimination prohibited. Right of action. (a) No
employer who is subject to the provisions of this chapter shall discharge, or cause to be
discharged, or in any manner discriminate against any employee because the employee
has filed a claim for workers' compensation benefits or otherwise exercised the rights
afforded to him pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

(b) Any employee who is so discharged or discriminated against may either: (1)
Bring a civil action in the superior court for the judicial district where the employer has
its principal office for the reinstatement of his previous job, payment of back wages and
reestablishment of employee benefits to which he would have otherwise been entitled
if he had not been discriminated against or discharged and any other damages caused
by such discrimination or discharge. The court may also award punitive damages. Any
employee who prevails in such a civil action shall be awarded reasonable attorney's
fees and costs to be taxed by the court; or (2) file a complaint with the chairman of the
Workers' Compensation Commission alleging violation of the provisions of subsection
(a) of this section. Upon receipt of any such complaint, the chairman shall select a
commissioner to hear the complaint, provided any commissioner who has previously
rendered any decision concerning the claim shall be excluded. The hearing shall be held
in the workers' compensation district where the employer has its principal office. After
the hearing, the commissioner shall send each party a written copy of his decision. The
commissioner may award the employee the reinstatement of his previous job, payment
of back wages and reestablishment of employee benefits to which he otherwise would
have been eligible if he had not been discriminated against or discharged. Any employee
who prevails in such a complaint shall be awarded reasonable attorney's fees. Any party
aggrieved by the decision of the commissioner may appeal the decision to the Appellate
Court.

(P.A. 84-300, S. 1, 2.)

Cited. 216 C. 40. Cited. 219 C. 1. Cited. 221 C. 356. Cited. 226 C. 475. Employer does not violate this Sec. when it
discharges employee solely on the basis that employee, who claims a continued inability to work, fails to return to work
following a compensable injury despite having been cleared to do so by his or her treating physician. 258 C. 724. Plaintiff
failed to establish prima facie case of employment discrimination under statute by failing to present sufficient evidence
that she had exercised any rights afforded to her under the act and by lack of evidence in the record to support workers'
compensation commissioner's finding that the principal or vice principal knew that plaintiff was exercising her rights or
that they intended to discriminate against her for exercising her rights. 270 C. 751.

Cited. 24 CA 362. Cited. 28 CA 660. Cited. 33 CA 490. Cited. 34 CA 708. Cited. 40 CA 577. Cited. 43 CA 1. Reaffirmed
prior rulings that plaintiff has burden of proving discrimination by a fair preponderance of the evidence. 52 CA 570. Where
plaintiff offered no evidence to raise an inference of discrimination and failed to present a genuine issue of material fact
as to the reason for termination, trial court properly found that a trier of fact could not find discriminatory intent as required
under the statute. 64 CA 263. Plaintiff must present sufficient evidence that there was a causal connection between the
exercise of his right to workers' compensation benefits and the termination of his employment. Statute does not create
liability for all torts and does not create a statutory basis for the abrogation of governmental immunity as to other torts.
108 CA 710.

Subsec. (a):

Section contains no requirement that any particular word be used in terminating an employee's employment. Standard
for proof of a retaliatory discharge. 49 CA 66.

Sec. 31-290c. Fraudulent claim or receipt of benefits. Penalties. (a) Any person
or his representative who makes or attempts to make any claim for benefits, receives
or attempts to receive benefits, prevents or attempts to prevent the receipt of benefits
or reduces or attempts to reduce the amount of benefits under this chapter based in whole
or in part upon (1) the intentional misrepresentation of any material fact including, but
not limited to, the existence, time, date, place, location, circumstances or symptoms of
the claimed injury or illness or (2) the intentional nondisclosure of any material fact
affecting such claim or the collection of such benefits, shall be guilty of a class C felony
if the amount of benefits claimed or received, including but not limited to, the value of
medical services, is less than two thousand dollars, or shall be guilty of a class B felony
if the amount of such benefits exceeds two thousand dollars. Such person shall also be
liable for treble damages in a civil proceeding under section 52-564.

(b) Any person, including an employer, who intentionally aids, abets, assists, promotes or facilitates the making of, or the attempt to make, any claim for benefits or the
receipt or attempted receipt of benefits under this chapter by another person in violation
of subsection (a) of this section shall be liable for the same criminal and civil penalties
as the person making or attempting to make the claim or receiving or attempting to
receive the benefits.

Sec. 31-290d. Workers' compensation fraud unit. (a) There shall be a workers'
compensation fraud unit within the office of the Chief State's Attorney in the Division
of Criminal Justice. The unit, under the supervision of the Chief State's Attorney, may,
upon receipt of a complaint, at the request of the chairman of the Workers' Compensation
Commission or on its own initiative, investigate cases of alleged fraud involving any
claim for benefits, any receipt or payment of benefits, or the insurance or self-insurance
of liability under sections 31-275 to 31-355a, inclusive. Upon conclusion of the investigation, the Chief State's Attorney shall take appropriate action to enforce the laws of
this state.

(b) The workers' compensation fraud unit shall submit a quarterly report detailing
its activities to the chairman and the Advisory Board of the Workers' Compensation
Commission and to the Insurance Commissioner.

(c) The cost of the workers' compensation fraud unit shall be appropriated by the
General Assembly as an expense of the Workers' Compensation Commission and shall
be paid from the Workers' Compensation Administration Fund established under section 31-344a. The unit shall not engage in nor be assigned any duties or responsibilities
other than those authorized by or necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

PART B*
WORKERS' COMPENSATION

Sec. 31-291. Principal employer, contractor and subcontractor. When any
principal employer procures any work to be done wholly or in part for him by a contractor, or through him by a subcontractor, and the work so procured to be done is a part or
process in the trade or business of such principal employer, and is performed in, on or
about premises under his control, such principal employer shall be liable to pay all
compensation under this chapter to the same extent as if the work were done without
the intervention of such contractor or subcontractor. The provisions of this section shall
not extend immunity to any principal employer from a civil action brought by an injured
employee or his dependent under the provisions of section 31-293 to recover damages
resulting from personal injury or wrongful death occurring on or after May 28, 1988,
unless such principal employer has paid compensation benefits under this chapter to
such injured employee or his dependent for the injury or death which is the subject of
the action.

Section makes each one of a chain of contractors liable to the employee. He need not sue his immediate employer first.
99 C. 353. One who lets out by contract the construction of an entire building is not a "principal employer"; aliter, if he
gives out parts to different contractors. 101 C. 34. Conditions to liability of principal employer. 106 C. 113; 107 C. 191.
General contractor liable for death of employee of subcontractor; both may be held jointly liable. 109 C. 39. General
contractor may recover from subcontractor sum which he has been compelled to pay under act to an employee of the latter.
110 C. 221. Question of whether one is a principal employer is largely one of degree and fact. 114 C. 126. Collection of
rubbish part of business of city. Id., 546. Cited. 118 C. 368; 119 C. 224. Principal employer liable for compensation cannot
be sued at common law. 122 C. 188. Independent contractor not subject to control of employer. 123 C. 320. Cited. 124 C.
230. When one is an employee and not a contractor. Id., 409; Id., 433. Principal employer not liable for compensation as
injury did not occur on premises under its control, although work was part or process of trade or business. 125 C. 109; Id.,
728. Cited. Id., 265. Independent contractor not servant at time of injury. 126 C. 379. Relationship of principal employer
and contractor did not exist. 127 C. 316; 132 C. 81. Work held not "part or process of" employer's trade or business. 129
C. 44; Id., 636. Cited. Id., 593. Work not done in, on or about premises under control of defendant. 130 C. 256. Work held
"part or process of" employer's trade or business. Id., 385. Cited. 131 C. 246. Cited. 134 C. 468. Cited. 135 C. 500. No
distinction between "contractor" and "independent contractor" as used in this section. Id., 294. Emphasis is on area rather
than actual control of implements which caused accident. 136 C. 529. Work not a part or process in trade or business of
defendant. Id., 698. Cited. 138 C. 77. If work is of such a character that it ordinarily or appropriately would be performed
by principal employer's own employees in the furtherance of his business, or as an essential part in the maintenance thereof,
it is a part or process of his work. Id., 569. Work held not a part or process in trade or business of principal employer. Id.,
646. Special purpose of section is to protect employees of minor contractors against irresponsibility of immediate employers
by making principal contractor liable where three conditions of statute are met. 154 C. 611. Cited. 166 C. 298. Cited. 189
C. 701. Not unconstitutional within provisions of section 1 of article first of the Connecticut Constitution. 212 C. 427.
Cited. 226 C. 508. Injured employee of a subcontractor may sue general contractor if employee can establish contractor's
liability to employee under case law. 264 C. 509.

Where employee's injuries are compensable, it is improper under statute for the court or compensation commissioner
to determine question of liability between employer, contractor and subcontractor defendants. 1 CS 78. Remodeling and
installing fixtures as a "part or process in the trade or business" of a department store discussed. 9 CS 429. Where a third
person was permitted to conduct a nonprofit cafeteria for the convenience of employees, the cafeteria was not "a part or
process in the trade or business" of the employer. 12 CS 203. To satisfy statute, work must be carried on in some defined
physical area within observation of principal employer affording opportunity, by sufficient oversight, to prevent or minimize
danger. 27 CS 281. Cited. 30 CS 330. Cited. 42 CS 168.

Sec. 31-291a. Method of computing workers' compensation premiums for
construction contractors. On or before July 1, 1996, the rating organization licensed
pursuant to section 38a-672 shall file with the Insurance Commissioner a method of
computing workers' compensation premiums which does not discriminate against or
penalize employers in the construction industry solely because they pay higher wages
than other employers to workers in the same job classification. Such method shall grant
premium credits to construction contractors (1) who have workers' compensation insurance policies in which at least fifty per cent of the premium is attributable to construction
classifications and (2) whose experience modification is unity or less as of July 1, 1996.
Such credits shall apply to workers' compensation insurance policies issued or renewed
on or after July 1, 1996.

Sec. 31-291b. Method of computing workers' compensation premiums for
volunteer staff of municipality or volunteer ambulance service. On or before October
1, 2009, the rating organization licensed pursuant to section 38a-672 shall file with the
Insurance Commissioner a method of calculating workers' compensation premiums for
volunteer staff which does not base such premium calculation primarily on the number
of ambulances owned by the municipality or volunteer ambulance service. Such method
shall be based primarily on ambulance usage and shall apply to workers' compensation
insurance policies issued or renewed on or after October 1, 2009. Ambulance usage
shall be determined by the estimated number of calls responded to annually. For purposes
of this section, "municipality or volunteer ambulance service" means a volunteer organization or municipality licensed by the Commissioner of Public Health to transport patients.

Sec. 31-292. Liability of employer for worker lent to or employed by another.
When the services of a worker are temporarily lent or let on hire to another person by
the person with whom the worker has entered into a contract of service, the latter shall,
for the purposes of this chapter, be deemed to continue to be the employer of such worker
while he is so lent or hired by another.

Sec. 31-293. Liability of third persons to employer and employee. Limitations
on liability of architects and engineers. Limitations on liability of insurers, self-insurance service organizations and unions relating to safety matters. (a) When any
injury for which compensation is payable under the provisions of this chapter has been
sustained under circumstances creating in a person other than an employer who has
complied with the requirements of subsection (b) of section 31-284, a legal liability to
pay damages for the injury, the injured employee may claim compensation under the
provisions of this chapter, but the payment or award of compensation shall not affect
the claim or right of action of the injured employee against such person, but the injured
employee may proceed at law against such person to recover damages for the injury;
and any employer or the custodian of the Second Injury Fund, having paid, or having
become obligated to pay, compensation under the provisions of this chapter may bring
an action against such person to recover any amount that he has paid or has become
obligated to pay as compensation to the injured employee. If the employee, the employer
or the custodian of the Second Injury Fund brings an action against such person, he shall
immediately notify the others, in writing, by personal presentation or by registered or
certified mail, of the action and of the name of the court to which the writ is returnable,
and the others may join as parties plaintiff in the action within thirty days after such
notification, and, if the others fail to join as parties plaintiff, their right of action against
such person shall abate. In any case in which an employee brings an action against a
party other than an employer who failed to comply with the requirements of subsection
(b) of section 31-284, in accordance with the provisions of this section, and the employer
is a party defendant in the action, the employer may join as a party plaintiff in the action.
The bringing of any action against an employer shall not constitute notice to the employer
within the meaning of this section. If the employer and the employee join as parties
plaintiff in the action and any damages are recovered, the damages shall be so apportioned that the claim of the employer, as defined in this section, shall take precedence
over that of the injured employee in the proceeds of the recovery, after the deduction
of reasonable and necessary expenditures, including attorneys' fees, incurred by the
employee in effecting the recovery. The rendition of a judgment in favor of the employee
or the employer against the party shall not terminate the employer's obligation to make
further compensation which the commissioner thereafter deems payable to the injured
employee. If the damages, after deducting the employee's expenses as provided in this
subsection, are more than sufficient to reimburse the employer, damages shall be assessed in his favor in a sum sufficient to reimburse him for his claim, and the excess
shall be assessed in favor of the injured employee. No compromise with the person by
either the employer or the employee shall be binding upon or affect the rights of the other,
unless assented to by him. For the purposes of this section, the claim of the employer shall
consist of (1) the amount of any compensation which he has paid on account of the
injury which is the subject of the suit and (2) an amount equal to the present worth of
any probable future payments which he has by award become obligated to pay on account
of the injury. The word "compensation", as used in this section, shall be construed to
include incapacity payments to an injured employee, payments to the dependents of a
deceased employee, sums paid out for surgical, medical and hospital services to an
injured employee, the burial fee provided by subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section
31-306, payments made under the provisions of sections 31-312 and 31-313, and payments made under the provisions of section 31-284b in the case of an action brought
under this section by the employer or an action brought under this section by the employee in which the employee has alleged and been awarded such payments as damages.
Each employee who brings an action against a party in accordance with the provisions
of this subsection shall include in his complaint (A) the amount of any compensation
paid by the employer or the Second Injury Fund on account of the injury which is the
subject of the suit and (B) the amount equal to the present worth of any probable future
payments which the employer or the Second Injury Fund has, by award, become obligated to pay on account of the injury. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection,
when any injury for which compensation is payable under the provisions of this chapter
has been sustained under circumstances creating in a person other than an employer
who has complied with the requirements of subsection (b) of section 31-284, a legal
liability to pay damages for the injury and the injured employee has received compensation for the injury from such employer, its workers' compensation insurance carrier or
the Second Injury Fund pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, the employer, insurance carrier or Second Injury Fund shall have a lien upon any judgment received by the
employee against the party or any settlement received by the employee from the party,
provided the employer, insurance carrier or Second Injury Fund shall give written notice
of the lien to the party prior to such judgment or settlement.

(b) When an injury for which compensation is payable under the provisions of this
chapter is determined to be the result of a motor vehicle accident or other accident or
circumstance in which a third person other than the employer was negligent and the
claim is subrogated by the employer or its workers' compensation insurance carrier, the
insurance carrier shall provide a rate adjustment to the employer's workers' compensation policy to reflect the recovery of any compensation paid by the insurance carrier
prior to subrogation.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, no construction
design professional who is retained to perform professional services on a construction
project, or any employee of a construction design professional who is assisting or representing the construction design professional in the performance of professional services
on the site of the construction project, shall be liable for any injury on the construction
project for which compensation is payable under the provisions of this chapter, unless
responsibility for safety practices is specifically assumed by contract. The immunity
provided by this subsection to any construction design professional shall not apply to
the negligent preparation of design plans or specifications. For the purposes of this
subsection "construction design professional" means (1) any person licensed as an architect under the provisions of chapter 390, (2) any person licensed, or exempted from
licensure, as an engineer under the provisions of chapter 391, or (3) any corporation
organized to render professional services through the practice of either or both of such
professions in this state.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the furnishing
of or the failure to furnish safety inspections or safety advisory services (1) by an insurer
incident to providing workers' compensation insurance to an employer, (2) pursuant
to a contract providing for safety inspections or safety advisory services between an
employer and a self-insurance service organization incident to providing workers' compensation related services or (3) by a union representing employees of the employer,
shall not subject the insurer or self-insurance service organization or their agents or
employees, or the union, its members or the members of its safety committee, to third
party liability for damages for injury, death or loss resulting therefrom unless the liability
arises from a breach of a duty of fair representation of its members by a union. The
immunity from liability extended under this subsection shall not be extended to any
insurer or self-insurance service organization other than where the immunity is incident
to the provision of workers' compensation insurance or workers' compensation related
services.

History: 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; 1967 acts allowed employer to be party plaintiff in cases where
employee brings an action against a third party, specified that bringing action against employer does not constitute notice
and increased burial fee from $500 to $1,000; P.A. 86-266 added Subsec. (b), limiting the civil liability of certain architects,
engineers and their employees for injuries compensable under workers' compensation which occur on construction projects;
P.A. 90-145 added Subsec. (c) concerning limitations on the liability of insurers, self-insurance service organizations and
unions in relation to safety inspections and safety advisory services; P.A. 91-32 made technical changes; P.A. 91-191
amended the definition of "compensation" in Subsec. (a) to include payments made under Sec. 31-284b in certain cases;
P.A. 93-228 amended Subsec. (a) to specify required contents of employees' complaints against third parties and to give
employers liens on judgments or settlements paid by third parties to employees, added new Subsec. (b) to prohibit insurers
from adjusting employers' workers' compensation insurance rates if payments made by insurers will be recovered from
negligent third party, and redesignated existing Subsecs. (b) and (c) as (c) and (d), respectively, effective July 1, 1993;
P.A. 96-65 amended Subsec. (a) to make technical changes for consistency and to include references to the custodian of
the Second Injury Fund and employers who fail to comply with Sec. 31-284(b).

If employee settles with tortfeasor, employer may accept the settlement and have credit for the amount received. 92 C.
398. Right of an insurer to recover from tortfeasor who has settled with the employee direct. 101 C. 200. Form of judgment
in suit by both employee and employer against tortfeasor; "reasonable attorney's fee" may be nothing. 104 C. 507. That
employer was "subsidiary" of third party not a defense. 112 C. 510. Cited. 114 C. 130. Injured person who receives
compensation may still sue doctor for malpractice. 115 C. 563. Where employer pays compensation in death case, he is
entitled to reimbursement out of judgment obtained by administratrix from third party. 116 C. 91. Cited. 123 C. 514. Cited
124 C. 230. Statute applied where employee injured by fellow employee. 125 C. 293. Cited. 128 C. 521. Cited. 129 C.
637. Cited. 132 C. 545. Liability for compensation after judgment against third party. Id., 671. Cited. 133 C. 448. Not
necessary to make administratrix of deceased employee a party. Employer's rights discussed. 136 C. 670. Cited. 143 C.
77. Contains no exception for a situation wherein the employer is reimbursed from a judgment obtained against a third
party tortfeasor. 144 C. 322. Cited. 150 C. 211. Employer's time to intervene does not begin to run until notice of the action
is given to him. 154 C. 708. By stipulation approved by compensation commissioner employer effectively released "any
further claims under the Workmen's Compensation Act" including right to recover from third parties. 157 C. 538. Cited.
160 C. 482. No standing to appeal on behalf of plaintiff's employer's participation. 163 C. 365. Cited. 176 C. 622. Cited.
181 C. 321. Cited. 182 C. 24. Cited. 183 C. 508. Cited. 192 C. 460. Cited. 193 C. 59; Id., 297. Cited. 204 C. 485. Cited.
208 C. 589. Notice in compliance with statute need not include information re right of intervention and legal consequences
of failure to intervene within statutory time period. 216 C. 533. Employer entitlement to a credit for unknown future benefits
against the net proceeds of a third party recovery discussed. 218 C. 19. Cited. Id., 46; Id., 531. Cited. 219 C. 439. Cited.
222 C. 744. Third party tortfeasor may not raise the negligence of the employer as a special defense when employer has
intervened in personal injury action as party plaintiff in order to secure his statutory right to reimbursement of workers'
compensation benefits. Id., 775. Cited. 224 C. 382. Cited. 225 C. 915. Notice under section does not require specific
reference to employment relationship. 230 C. 100. Cited. Id., 914. Cited. 232 C. 918. Cited. 233 C. 251. Cited. 236 C. 330.
Cited. 241 C. 170. Cited. 242 C. 375. In order for abatement provision to be invoked, notice given pursuant to section must
comport with both the statutory requirements and the due process clause. Id., 432. Section authorizes injured employee to
seek recovery from third party, other than employer, for work-related injuries caused by that third party. 247 C. 442. City
employer's right to intervene in employee's negligence action against physician is incorporated into Sec. 7-433c pursuant
to this section. 253 C. 429. Relevant figure for determining whether to award interest under Sec. 52-192a is amount of the
jury verdict, not amount of the postapportionment judgment rendered pursuant this section. 264 C. 314.

Since the right is a substantive one, it does not matter that the exact method prescribed by this section has not been
followed. 4 CS 5. Plaintiff employer is required to join as coplaintiff and if he does not, his right of action abates. 5 CS
108. Cited. 6 CS 152. Purpose of statute is fulfilled if the rights of the employer as well as the employees are determined
in one action and an allowance of a motion by the employer to join as a codefendant does not constitute a judgment or
settle a question of fact. 9 CS 68. Right of employer is not one for a wrong done to employee but one conferred by statute.
10 CS 508. Statute requires that employee give employer formal notice; it is not enough that the employer has knowledge
of the existence of a pending action. 12 CS 325. Available only to employer who has paid or is obligated to make payments
under this act. 17 CS 69. Defendant employer and its insurer are not required to intervene in employee's representative's
suit against the tortfeasor within the one year statutory period. 20 CS 30. Where employer brings action against third person
within time limited by statute and employee, within thirty days after institution of suit, has moved to join, fact that motion
was filed more than year after tortious act took place would not defeat motion. 23 CS 106. Cited. 27 CS 383. Demurrer to
complaint sustained in third party action by employee against employer's insurance carrier. Duties under workmen's
compensation act merge identities of employer and his insurer. 28 CS 1. Cited. 30 CS 126. Statute contain no authorization
for suit against employee. 33 CS 661. Time limitation, within which right must be enforced, is limitation of liability itself
and not of remedy alone. Id. "Shall abate" provision does not apply to employee's entire cause of action but only to extent
it has previously been prosecuted by employer; not required that defense be by plea in abatement. 35 CS 60. Comparative
negligence of employee is a defense in an action by an employer against a third party. 36 CS 137. Cited. Id., 317. Comparative
negligence apportionment between employer and employee of sums received from third party; public policy discussed.
39 CS 222. Cited. 40 CS 165.

Cited. 6 Conn. Cir. Ct. 671.

Subsec. (a):

Cited. 211 C. 133. Cited. 217 C. 631. Employer credit to extent of third party recovery may be awarded by workers'
compensation commission. 218 C. 46. Cited. 221 C. 465. Cited. 224 C. 8. Sec. 13a-149 does not bar employer from seeking
reimbursement under this section. 231 C. 370. Cited. Id., 381. Judgment of appellate court in Rana v. Ritacco, 36 CA 635,
reversed; language of section "does not indicate that service must have been completed before notice can be sent". 236 C.
330. Does not apply to uninsured motorist coverage. 242 C. 375. Cited. Id., 432. Applicable statute of limitations on
underlying claim is tolled if employer receives notice of an employee's timely filed action against a third party tortfeasor
and intervenes within thirty-day period prescribed by statute. 246 C. 156. Employer has cause of action under this section
that is separate and distinct from that of its injured employee. 247 C. 442. "Compensation" in this section includes sums
paid pursuant to voluntary settlement agreement authorized by Sec. 31-296. 259 C. 325. Term "injury", as used in Subsec.
does not encompass the harm alleged by plaintiff in his legal malpractice action because it is unrelated to plaintiff's work.
269 C. 507. "Third person" to which Subsec. refers is person in whom a legal liability has been created to pay damages
for the employee's work-related injury. Id. "Third person", as used in Subsec. refers to the actual tortfeasor who caused
the work-related injury. Id. Subsec. does not confer standing on an employer to challenge the allocation of proceeds of a
settlement between its injured employee and the third party tortfeasor. 292 C. 86. An employer that pays workers' compensation benefits to an injured employee is entitled to reimbursement for those payments from "any damages" that the employee
may recover from the third party tortfeasor, including an award that consists solely of noneconomic damages; "compensation" includes loss of use payments, because public policy is that third party tortfeasor, and not the employer, shall be
primarily responsible for bearing economic loss resulting from tortfeasor's negligence. 294 C. 357. Scope of employer's
lien is coextensive with employer's claim under Subsec., and includes credit for unknown, future workers' compensation
benefits in the amount of net proceeds that injured employee recovers from third party tortfeasor. 297 C. 391.

In the absence of evidence that employer was misled or otherwise prejudiced by notice delivered to employer that
incorrectly stated employer's name, notice satisfied statutory due process requirement that employees bringing actions for
certain injuries "immediately notify" their employers of their lawsuits. 49 CS 412.

Sec. 31-293a. No right against fellow employee; exception. If an employee or,
in case of his death, his dependent has a right to benefits or compensation under this
chapter on account of injury or death from injury caused by the negligence or wrong of
a fellow employee, such right shall be the exclusive remedy of such injured employee
or dependent and no action may be brought against such fellow employee unless such
wrong was wilful or malicious or the action is based on the fellow employee's negligence
in the operation of a motor vehicle as defined in section 14-1. For purposes of this section,
contractors' mobile equipment such as bulldozers, powershovels, rollers, graders or
scrapers, farm machinery, cranes, diggers, forklifts, pumps, generators, air compressors,
drills or other similar equipment designed for use principally off public roads are not
"motor vehicles" if the claimed injury involving such equipment occurred at the worksite
on or after October 1, 1983. No insurance policy or contract shall be accepted as proof
of financial responsibility of the owner and as evidence of the insuring of such person
for injury to or death of persons and damage to property by the Commissioner of Motor
Vehicles required by chapter 246 if it excludes from coverage under such policy or
contract any agent, representative or employee of such owner from such policy or contract. Any provision of such an insurance policy or contract effected after July 1, 1969,
which excludes from coverage thereunder any agent, representative or employee of the
owner of a motor vehicle involved in an accident with a fellow employee shall be null
and void.

History: 1969 act clarified provisions re actions against fellow employees and added provisions re insurance policies
and contracts; P.A. 83-297 provided that contractor's mobile equipment designed for use principally off public roads are
not "motor vehicles" for purposes of this section if the injuries involving the equipment occur at the worksite; P.A. 84-22
made clear that the exclusions from the definition of "motor vehicle" established in P.A. 83-297 apply only to injuries
which occur on or after October 1, 1983.

Cited. 167 C. 499. Cited. 169 C. 630. Fact that employer worked with plaintiff did not change his status to "fellow
employee" to come within statute provisions. 178 C. 371. Employee has no right of action against fellow employee who
directed operation of truck's hydraulic hoist since actions did not constitute "the operation of a motor vehicle". 180 C.
469. Cited. 182 C. 24. Cited. 183 C. 508. Specific language of Sec. 4-165 prevails over general language of this statute as
applied to fellow state employees. 185 C. 616. This section, which permits an action against a fellow employee for injuries
arising out of the negligent operation of a motor vehicle, does not supersede the more specific provisions of Sec. 7-308.
187 C. 53. Term "operation of a motor vehicle" construed as not including activities unrelated to movement of the vehicle.
189 C. 354. Cited. Id., 550. Cited. 193 C. 59. Cited. 196 C. 91. Cited. 203 C. 34. Cited. 206 C. 495. Cited. 208 C. 589.
"Motor vehicle" exception discussed. 215 C. 55. Cited. 220 C. 721. Cited. 221 C. 356. Cited. 222 C. 744. Cited. 237 C.
1. Cited. 242 C. 375. Tort actions for emotional injuries that are not compensable under the act are not barred by exclusivity
provisions of the act. 259 C. 729. When read in conjunction with Sec. 31-275, statute plainly states that emotional distress
not arising from physical injury is not compensable through workers' compensation. 265 C. 21. Trial court improperly
granted defendant's motion for summary judgment because legislature did not intend to create a special hazard exception
to the liability created under the statute for injuries sustained by employee as a result of another employee's negligent
operation of a motor vehicle; discussion of legislative intent of statute; overruled 65 CA 771. 279 C. 177. Unicover insurance
policy did not provide umbrella coverage. 285 C. 342.

Cited. 2 CA 174. Cited. 3 CA 40. Exception under the statute is concerned only with those engaged in any activity
related to driving or moving a vehicle or related to a circumstance resulting from the movement of a vehicle. Id., 246.
Cited. 7 CA 296; Id., 575. Cited. 9 CA 290. Cited. 10 CA 18; Id., 618. Cited. 20 CA 619. Cited. 22 CA 88. Definition of
"motor vehicle" for purposes of the exception in this section is controlled by Sec. 14-1(a)(47) definition as further refined
by Sec. 14-165(i). 30 CA 263. Cited. 41 CA 664. Golf cart not a "motor vehicle" for purposes of the "motor vehicle"
exception to exclusivity provision of Workers' Compensation Act. 54 CA 479. Statute does not authorize plaintiff's action
against his employer arising out of a fellow employee's negligent operation of a motor vehicle. 56 CA 325. Defendant's
operation of a payloader to jump start plaintiff's dump truck did not constitute "operation of a motor vehicle" so as to bring
the incident within the exception contained in this section. 64 CA 409. Injuries caused by operation of external controls
of garbage truck are not caused by operation of motor vehicle and do not fall within exception of exclusive remedy of
worker's compensation. 99 CA 464.

Cited. 30 CS 233. Cited. 36 CS 101. Cited. 39 CS 102. Cited. 40 CS 165. "Motor vehicle" exception discussed. 41 CS
326. Cited. 41 CS 391. Cited. 44 CS 148. Legislature did not treat or intend to treat golf carts differently from any other
non-highway-type mechanism for purposes of this section. 46 CS 24. Injury occurring from use of motor vehicle at service
station did not fall under the motor vehicle exception but rather is attributable to "the special hazards of the work place".
49 CS 351. Rules of statutory construction did not permit court to extend umbrella coverage based on facts of case. 50 CS 486.

Sec. 31-294a. Eligibility for podiatric care. Any recipient of benefits under the
Workers' Compensation Act shall be eligible to receive the services of a podiatrist to the
same extent that such person is eligible to receive the services of a practicing physician,
surgeon or dentist.

Sec. 31-294b. Report of injury to employer. Notice of claim form provided
by commission. (a) Any employee who has sustained an injury in the course of his
employment shall immediately report the injury to his employer, or some person representing his employer. If the employee fails to report the injury immediately, the commissioner may reduce the award of compensation proportionately to any prejudice that he
finds the employer has sustained by reason of the failure, provided the burden of proof
with respect to such prejudice shall rest upon the employer.

(b) Once the first report of injury has been submitted to the Workers' Compensation
Commission, pursuant to section 31-294c, by the employer, the employer's insurance
carrier or the employer's representative, the Workers' Compensation Commission shall
provide to the injured employee, not later than five business days after receipt of such
notice, a copy of Form 30C, Notice of Claim for Compensation, or any successor form
prepared by the Workers' Compensation Commission to help injured employees comply
with the notice requirements of section 31-294c. The Workers' Compensation Commission shall provide such form to the injured employee in person or by mail sent to such
employee's current address on file with the employer.

(P.A. 91-32, S. 10, 41; P.A. 08-3, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 08-3 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) re Workers' Compensation
Commission providing Form 30C or successor form to employee following filing of first report of injury.

Cited. 228 C. 1. Sec. 31-294 (repealed) cited. Id. Cited. 237 C. 1.

Employer's first report of injury form and an attorney's letter taken together meet statutory requirement of written
notice of claim. 52 CA 194.

Sec. 31-294c. Notice of claim for compensation. Notice contesting liability. Exception for dependents of certain deceased employees. (a) No proceedings for compensation under the provisions of this chapter shall be maintained unless a written notice
of claim for compensation is given within one year from the date of the accident or
within three years from the first manifestation of a symptom of the occupational disease,
as the case may be, which caused the personal injury, provided, if death has resulted
within two years from the date of the accident or first manifestation of a symptom of
the occupational disease, a dependent or dependents, or the legal representative of the
deceased employee, may make claim for compensation within the two-year period or
within one year from the date of death, whichever is later. Notice of a claim for compensation may be given to the employer or any commissioner and shall state, in simple
language, the date and place of the accident and the nature of the injury resulting from
the accident, or the date of the first manifestation of a symptom of the occupational
disease and the nature of the disease, as the case may be, and the name and address of
the employee and of the person in whose interest compensation is claimed. An employee
of the state shall send a copy of the notice to the Commissioner of Administrative Services. As used in this section, "manifestation of a symptom" means manifestation to an
employee claiming compensation, or to some other person standing in such relation to
him that the knowledge of the person would be imputed to him, in a manner that is or
should be recognized by him as symptomatic of the occupational disease for which
compensation is claimed.

(b) Whenever liability to pay compensation is contested by the employer, he shall
file with the commissioner, on or before the twenty-eighth day after he has received a
written notice of claim, a notice in accord with a form prescribed by the chairman of
the Workers' Compensation Commission stating that the right to compensation is contested, the name of the claimant, the name of the employer, the date of the alleged injury
or death and the specific grounds on which the right to compensation is contested. The
employer shall send a copy of the notice to the employee in accordance with section
31-321. If the employer or his legal representative fails to file the notice contesting
liability on or before the twenty-eighth day after he has received the written notice of
claim, the employer shall commence payment of compensation for such injury or death
on or before the twenty-eighth day after he has received the written notice of claim, but
the employer may contest the employee's right to receive compensation on any grounds
or the extent of his disability within one year from the receipt of the written notice of
claim, provided the employer shall not be required to commence payment of compensation when the written notice of claim has not been properly served in accordance with
section 31-321 or when the written notice of claim fails to include a warning that (1)
the employer, if he has commenced payment for the alleged injury or death on or before
the twenty-eighth day after receiving a written notice of claim, shall be precluded from
contesting liability unless a notice contesting liability is filed within one year from the
receipt of the written notice of claim, and (2) the employer shall be conclusively presumed to have accepted the compensability of the alleged injury or death unless the
employer either files a notice contesting liability on or before the twenty-eighth day
after receiving a written notice of claim or commences payment for the alleged injury
or death on or before such twenty-eighth day. An employer shall be entitled, if he prevails, to reimbursement from the claimant of any compensation paid by the employer
on and after the date the commissioner receives written notice from the employer or his
legal representative, in accordance with the form prescribed by the chairman of the
Workers' Compensation Commission, stating that the right to compensation is contested. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, an employer who fails to
contest liability for an alleged injury or death on or before the twenty-eighth day after
receiving a written notice of claim and who fails to commence payment for the alleged
injury or death on or before such twenty-eighth day, shall be conclusively presumed to
have accepted the compensability of the alleged injury or death.

(c) Failure to provide a notice of claim under subsection (a) of this section shall not
bar maintenance of the proceedings if there has been a hearing or a written request for
a hearing or an assignment for a hearing within a one-year period from the date of the
accident or within a three-year period from the first manifestation of a symptom of the
occupational disease, as the case may be, or if a voluntary agreement has been submitted
within the applicable period, or if within the applicable period an employee has been
furnished, for the injury with respect to which compensation is claimed, with medical
or surgical care as provided in section 31-294d. No defect or inaccuracy of notice of
claim shall bar maintenance of proceedings unless the employer shows that he was
ignorant of the facts concerning the personal injury and was prejudiced by the defect
or inaccuracy of the notice. Upon satisfactory showing of ignorance and prejudice, the
employer shall receive allowance to the extent of the prejudice.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, a dependent or
dependents of a deceased employee seeking compensation under section 31-306 who
was barred by a final judgment in a court of law from filing a claim arising out of the
death of the deceased employee, whose date of injury was between June 1, 1991, and
June 30, 1991, and whose date of death was between November 1, 1992, and November
30, 1992, because of the failure of the dependent to timely file a separate death benefits
claim, shall be allowed to file a written notice of claim for compensation not later than
one year after July 8, 2005, and the commissioner shall have jurisdiction to determine
such dependent's claim.

History: P.A. 91-339 amended Subsec. (b) to change "commissioners" to "chairman of the workers' compensation
commission"; P.A. 93-228 amended Subsec. (b) to change the circumstances under which a conclusive presumption
of employer liability is established and to allow an employer who successfully contests liability for a claim to recover
compensation paid to the claimant, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-419 made technical change in Subsec. (b), replacing
"commended" with "commenced", effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 05-230 added new Subsec. (d) re jurisdiction of commissioner over specified claim of dependent or dependents of deceased employee, effective July 8, 2005, and applicable to
claims pending on or filed on and after that date.

Cited. 228 C. 1. Sec. 31-294 (repealed) cited. Id. Cited. 231 C. 529. Cited. 232 C. 780. Sec. 31-294 cited. Id. Cited.
237 C. 1. Cited. 239 C. 19. Workers' compensation legislation is remedial and should be broadly construed to accomplish
its humanitarian purpose. 252 C. 596. Where workers' compensation appeal involves issue of statutory construction that
has not been subjected to judicial scrutiny, Supreme Court has plenary power to review the administrative decision. Id.
HIV is an occupational disease for correction officers who are members of emergency response units which are special
teams of correction officers that respond to major disturbances and riots, and, therefore plaintiff's notice of claim was
timely filed under statute; HIV is peculiar to and distinctively associated with decedent's occupation as a correction officer
in an emergency response unit because of the direct causal connection between the specific duties of his employment,
which required him to interact with inmates with a high HIV infection rate and in a manner that greatly increased the risk
of contracting HIV and the AIDS the decedent contracted. 268 C. 753. Fact that an occupational disease cannot be qualified
as such until a causal connection with exposure at employee's workplace can be established compels the conclusion that
such a connection is a prerequisite to commencement of the statute of limitations for making a claim for an occupational
disease. 280 C. 723. For purposes of this section, commissioner must determine whether plaintiff's repetitive trauma injury
more closely resembles "an accidental injury" or "occupational disease". 296 C. 463.

Cited. 38 CA 1; Id., 73. Cited. 44 CA 465. Employer's first report of injury form and an attorney's letter taken together
meet statutory requirement of written notice of claim. 52 CA 194. Workers' compensation review board properly concluded
that, under the totality of the circumstances, completion of accident investigation form by defendant's fire department
indicating that plaintiff had been transported to the hospital for high blood pressure, plaintiff's filing of first report of injury
for high blood pressure with defendant's workers' compensation division and the employer's investigative report prepared
by the defendant's workers' compensation division for defendant's controller's office constituted "substantial compliance"
with notice requirements. 63 CA 570. Does not require that notice of injury by employee include statutory reference. 70
CA 321.

Subsec. (a):

Cited. 239 C. 408. Cited. 240 C. 788. Cited. 242 C. 570. Notice of claim for repetitive trauma injury is sufficient to
support a motion to preclude if it provides adequate information as to period of time over which the injury is alleged to
have occurred sufficient to allow employer to make timely investigation of the claim. 252 C. 596. Service on employer of
amended complaint in third party action and employer's acknowledgment that it "may" become obligated to pay benefits
to plaintiff are not sufficient to establish that employer had actual notice of plaintiff's intent to seek survivor's benefits as
a result of decedent's death. 265 C. 525. Statute of limitations in Subsec. applies to all potential claims of employee's
estate or his dependents and requires that a compensable claim be filed within the applicable limitations period, irrespective
of whether initial claim is filed by the employee, the employee's estate after his death, or the decedent employee's dependents; proviso is not a condition precedent for commencement of dependents' claims, but rather a modified limitations
period for commencement of such claims. 283 C. 813.

Cited. 40 CA 446. Cited. 42 CA 803. Cited. 44 CA 465. Cited. 45 CA 707. "Accident" and "occupational disease"
must be read broadly enough so that even an injury that is defined as stemming from repetitive trauma under Sec. 31-275(8) may be deemed to fall into one of the two categories. 56 CA 90. Without timely written notice of claim, commissioner
lacks subject matter jurisdiction over such claim. 68 CA 590. Separate notice of claim not required when dependent pursues
derivative claim for death benefit. 71 CA 140.

Subsec. (b):

Cited. 241 C. 692. Notice to contest liability must state both date of alleged injury and specific reasons for contesting
compensation. 252 C. 596. Compensability, in terms of whether a type of injury falls within scope of the act, is a jurisdictional
fact that would allow employer to contest liability beyond the time frame allotted by Subsec.; hence, because the emotional
impairment claimed by plaintiff in the present case does not fall within scope of the act, commissioner and board initially
properly denied plaintiff's motion to preclude defendants from contesting liability. 270 C. 532. P.A. 93-228 did not alter
status quo that if employer neither timely pays nor timely contests liability, conclusive presumption of compensability
attaches and employer is barred from contesting employee's right to receive compensation on any ground or extent of
employee's disability. 286 C. 102. Where payment for claim is not commenced or liability is not contested within the
period required by statute, employer cannot challenge proof of claim but commissioner is not barred from further inquiry.
291 C. 537.

Employer's insurer's payment of medical bills during one-year period constituted the furnishing of medical treatment.
47 CA 530. Employee's claim was not time barred because he failed to file notice of claim that specifically referenced all
of his injuries. 48 CA 357.

Sec. 31-294d. Medical and surgical aid; hospital and nursing service. (a)(1)
The employer, as soon as the employer has knowledge of an injury, shall provide a
competent physician or surgeon to attend the injured employee and, in addition, shall
furnish any medical and surgical aid or hospital and nursing service, including medical
rehabilitation services and prescription drugs, as the physician or surgeon deems reasonable or necessary. The employer, any insurer acting on behalf of the employer, or any
other entity acting on behalf of the employer or insurer shall be responsible for paying
the cost of such prescription drugs directly to the provider.

(2) If the injured employee is a local or state police officer, state marshal, judicial
marshal, correction officer, emergency medical technician, paramedic, ambulance
driver, firefighter, or active member of a volunteer fire company or fire department
engaged in volunteer duties, who has been exposed in the line of duty to blood or bodily
fluids that may carry blood-borne disease, the medical and surgical aid or hospital and
nursing service provided by the employer shall include any relevant diagnostic and
prophylactic procedure for and treatment of any blood-borne disease.

(b) The employee shall select the physician or surgeon from an approved list of
physicians and surgeons prepared by the chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission. If the employee is unable to make the selection, the employer shall do so,
subject to ratification by the employee or his next of kin. If the employer has a full-time staff physician or if a physician is available on call, the initial treatment required
immediately following the injury may be rendered by that physician, but the employee
may thereafter select his own physician as provided by this chapter for any further
treatment without prior approval of the commissioner.

(c) The commissioner may, without hearing, at the request of the employer or the
injured employee, when good reason exists, or on his own motion, authorize or direct
a change of physician or surgeon or hospital or nursing service provided pursuant to
subsection (a) of this section.

(d) The pecuniary liability of the employer for the medical and surgical service
required by this section shall be limited to the charges that prevail in the same community
or similar communities for similar treatment of injured persons of a like standard of
living when the similar treatment is paid for by the injured person. The liability of the
employer for hospital service shall be the amount it actually costs the hospital to render
the service, as determined by the commissioner, except in the case of state humane
institutions, the liability of the employer shall be the per capita cost as determined by
the Comptroller under the provisions of section 17b-223. All disputes concerning liability for hospital services in workers' compensation cases shall be settled by the commissioner in accordance with this chapter.

(e) If the employer fails to promptly provide a physician or surgeon or any medical
and surgical aid or hospital and nursing service as required by this section, the injured
employee may obtain a physician or surgeon, selected from the approved list prepared
by the chairman, or such medical and surgical aid or hospital and nursing service at the
expense of the employer.

Although workers' compensation commissioner, acting within her discretion under statute, designated a new treating
physician for plaintiff, commissioner did not have authority to make specific orders regarding a treatment plan to be
imposed on a treating physician without that physician's acquiescence. 94 CA 334.

(b) If it appears to the commissioner that an injured employee has refused to accept
and failed to obtain reasonable medical and surgical aid or hospital and nursing service,
all rights of compensation under the provisions of this chapter shall be suspended during
such refusal and failure.

Sec. 31-294f. Medical examination of injured employee. Medical reports. (a)
An injured employee shall submit himself to examination by a reputable practicing
physician or surgeon, at any time while claiming or receiving compensation, upon the
reasonable request of the employer or at the direction of the commissioner. The examination shall be performed to determine the nature of the injury and the incapacity resulting
from the injury. The physician or surgeon shall be selected by the employer from an
approved list of physicians and surgeons prepared by the chairman of the Workers'
Compensation Commission and shall be paid by the employer. At any examination
requested by the employer or directed by the commissioner under this section, the injured
employee shall be allowed to have in attendance any reputable practicing physician or
surgeon that the employee obtains and pays for himself. The employee shall submit to
all other physical examinations as required by this chapter. The refusal of an injured
employee to submit himself to a reasonable examination under this section shall suspend
his right to compensation during such refusal.

(b) All medical reports concerning any injury of an employee sustained in the course
of his employment shall be furnished within thirty days after the completion of the
reports, at the same time and in the same manner, to the employer and the employee or
his attorney.

(P.A. 91-32, S. 14, 41; 91-339, S. 49, 55; P.A. 96-125.)

History: P.A. 91-339 amended Subsec. (a) to change "commissioners" to "chairman of the workers' compensation
commission"; P.A. 96-125 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing "Any medical reports resulting from an examination requested
by an employer or directed by the commissioner under this section" with "All medical reports concerning any injury
of an employee sustained in the course of his employment" and by deleting the provision re furnishing of all "other"
medical reports.

Cited. 228 C. 1. Sec. 31-294 (repealed) cited. Id.

Statute provides employer the right to an independent and meaningful medical examination of injured employee. 65
CA 592. Although plain language of statute authorizes physical or mental examinations by reputable practicing physician
or surgeon and defendant's vocational rehabilitation expert is not a medical doctor, statute does not limit broad equitable
powers of commissioner to act pursuant to the more general provisions that encourage full disclosure and cooperation
among the parties during pendency of a claim; workers' compensation review board properly affirmed commissioner's
decision to compel plaintiff to undergo vocational rehabilitation examination by a nonphysician selected by defendant, and
commissioner did not abuse his discretion in precluding plaintiff from admitting evidence from her vocational rehabilitation
expert when she disregarded commissioner's order to submit to examination by defendant's vocational rehabilitation
expert. 91 CA 470.

Sec. 31-294g. State employee notice of claim for compensation. Whenever the
Commissioner of Administrative Services receives a notice of claim for compensation
from an employee of the state pursuant to subsection (a) of section 31-294c, the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall send a copy of the notice of claim to the chief
executive officer of the state agency, department, board, institution or commission in
which the employee works.

Sec. 31-294h. Benefits for police officers suffering mental or emotional impairment. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, workers' compensation benefits for any police officer, as defined in subparagraph (B)(ii) of subdivision (16) of
section 31-275, who suffers a mental or emotional impairment arising from such police
officer's use of deadly force or subjection to deadly force in the line of duty, shall be
limited to treatment by a psychologist or a psychiatrist who is on the approved list
of practicing physicians established by the chairman of the Workers' Compensation
Commission pursuant to section 31-280.

Sec. 31-294i. Municipal firefighters and police officers. Employer presumption of liability for cardiac emergencies. For the purpose of adjudication of claims
for payment of benefits under the provisions of this chapter to a uniformed member of
a paid municipal fire department or a regular member of a paid municipal police department or constable who began such employment on or after July 1, 1996, any condition
or impairment of health caused by a cardiac emergency occurring to such member on
or after July 1, 2009, while such member is in training for or engaged in fire duty at the
site of an accident or fire, or other public safety operation within the scope of such
member's employment for such member's municipal employer that results in death or
temporary or permanent total or partial disability, shall be presumed to have been suffered in the line of duty and within the scope of such member's employment, unless the
contrary is shown by a preponderance of the evidence, provided such member successfully passed a physical examination on entry into service conducted by a licensed physician designated by such department which examination failed to reveal any evidence
of such condition. For the purposes of this section, "cardiac emergency" means cardiac
arrest or myocardial infarction, and "constable" means any municipal law enforcement
officer who is authorized to make arrests and has completed Police Officer Standards
and Training Council certification pursuant to section 7-294a.

Sec. 31-295. Waiting period. When compensation begins. Penalty for late payment of permanent partial disability benefits. (a) No compensation shall be payable
for total or partial incapacity under the provisions of this chapter on account of any
injury which does not incapacitate the injured employee for a period of more than three
days from earning full wages at his customary employment. If the incapacity continues
for a period of more than three days but less than seven days, compensation shall begin
at the expiration of the first three days of total or partial incapacity. If the incapacity
continues for a period of seven days, compensation shall begin from the date of the
injury.

(b) The injured employee shall be entitled to full wages for the entire day of the
injury and that day shall not be counted as a day of incapacity.

(c) If the employee is entitled to receive compensation for permanent disability to
an injured member in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of section 31-308, the compensation shall be paid to him beginning not later than thirty days following
the date of the maximum improvement of the member or members and, if the compensation payments are not so paid, the employer shall, in addition to the compensation rate,
pay interest at the rate of ten per cent per annum on such sum or sums from the date of
maximum improvement. The employer shall ascertain at least monthly whether employees are entitled to compensation because of a loss of wages as a result of the injury and,
if there is a loss of wages, shall pay the compensation. The chairman of the Workers'
Compensation Commission shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of
chapter 54, for the purpose of assuring prompt payment by the employer or his insurance
carrier.

History: 1959 act divided section into Subsecs. and reduced periods of incapacity used to determine compensation from
seven to three days and from ten to seven days; 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; 1967 act added Subsec.
(c) re compensation for permanent disability; P.A. 91-32 made technical changes; P.A. 91-339 amended Subsec. (c) to
require the chairman of the workers' compensation commission to adopt regulations; P.A. 93-228 amended Subsec. (c)
to increase the interest penalty for late payment of permanent partial disability benefits from 6% to 10% per year, effective
July 1, 1993.

"Incapacity" defined. 113 C. 710. Cited. 119 C. 560.

Cited. 7 CA 142.

Defendant may not counterclaim against intervening plaintiff employer based on contract between employer and defendant for former to hold latter harmless for personal injury claims. 22 CS 23.

Subsec. (a):

Cited. 241 C. 692.

Subsec. (b):

Cited. 16 CA 437.

Subsec. (c):

Nothing in subsection expressly prohibits plaintiff from receiving incapacity benefits until both legs have reached
maximum medical improvement and such result does not undermine purpose of the Worker's Compensation Act. 263
C. 328.

Sec. 31-296. Voluntary agreements. (a) If an employer and an injured employee,
or in case of fatal injury the employee's legal representative or dependent, at a date
not earlier than the expiration of the waiting period, reach an agreement in regard to
compensation, such agreement shall be submitted in writing to the commissioner by the
employer with a statement of the time, place and nature of the injury upon which it is
based; and, if such commissioner finds such agreement to conform to the provisions of
this chapter in every regard, the commissioner shall so approve it. A copy of the
agreement, with a statement of the commissioner's approval, shall be delivered to each
of the parties and thereafter it shall be as binding upon both parties as an award by the
commissioner. The commissioner's statement of approval shall also inform the employee or the employee's dependent, as the case may be, of any rights the individual
may have to an annual cost-of-living adjustment or to participate in a rehabilitation
program under the provisions of this chapter. The commissioner shall retain the original
agreement, with the commissioner's approval thereof, in the commissioner's office and,
if an application is made to the superior court for an execution, the commissioner shall,
upon the request of said court, file in the court a certified copy of the agreement and
statement of approval.

(b) Before discontinuing or reducing payment on account of total or partial incapacity under any such agreement, the employer or the employer's insurer, if it is claimed
by or on behalf of the injured employee that such employee's incapacity still continues,
shall notify the commissioner and the employee, by certified mail, of the proposed
discontinuance or reduction of such payments. Such notice shall specify the reason for
the proposed discontinuance or reduction and the date such proposed discontinuance
or reduction will commence. No discontinuance or reduction shall become effective
unless specifically approved in writing by the commissioner. The employee may request
a hearing on any such proposed discontinuance or reduction not later than fifteen days
after receipt of such notice. Any such request for a hearing shall be given priority over
requests for hearings on other matters. The commissioner shall not approve any such
discontinuance or reduction prior to the expiration of the period for requesting a hearing
or the completion of such hearing, whichever is later. In any case where the commissioner finds that an employer has discontinued or reduced any payments made in accordance with this section without the approval of the commissioner, such employer shall
be required to pay to the employee the total amount of all payments so discontinued or
the total amount by which such payments were reduced, as the case may be, and shall
be required to pay interest to the employee, at a rate of one and one-quarter per cent per
month or portion of a month, on any payments so discontinued or on the total amount
by which such payments were reduced, as the case may be, plus reasonable attorney's
fees incurred by the employee in relation to such discontinuance or reduction.

(c) The employer's or insurer's notice of intention to discontinue or reduce payments shall (1) identify the claimant, the claimant's attorney or other representative, the
employer, the insurer, and the injury, including the date of the injury, the city or town
in which the injury occurred and the nature of the injury, (2) include medical documentation that (A) establishes the basis for the discontinuance or reduction of payments, and
(B) identifies the claimant's attending physician, and (3) be in substantially the following form:

IMPORTANT
STATE OF CONNECTICUT WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMISSION

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE EMPLOYER OR INSURER INTENDS
TO REDUCE OR DISCONTINUE YOUR COMPENSATION PAYMENTS ON ....
(date) FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:

If you object to the reduction or discontinuance of benefits as stated in this notice, YOU
MUST REQUEST A HEARING NOT LATER THAN 15 DAYS after your receipt of
this notice, or this notice will automatically be approved.

To request an Informal Hearing, call the Workers' Compensation Commission District Office in which your case is pending.

Be prepared to provide medical and other documentation to support your objection.
For your protection, note the date when you received this notice.

History: 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; 1971 act changed point at which discontinuance is effective
from time notices are sent to commissioner to time when specifically approved in writing by commissioner; P.A. 79-376 replaced "workmen's compensation" with "workers' compensation"; P.A. 83-114 provided that the commissioner's
statement of approval of a voluntary agreement shall inform the individual as to his rights for an annual cost-of-living
adjustment under this chapter; P.A. 84-180 provided that the commissioner's statement of approval inform the employee
of his rights to participate in a rehabilitation program; P.A. 88-106 authorized reduction of benefits; P.A. 90-116 provided
that notices of discontinuance and reduction shall be made by certified mail, provided for priority hearing on discontinuances
and reductions and provided for interest and attorney's fees against the employer in cases of wrongful discontinuance or
reduction (Revisor's note: In 2001 the references in this section to the date "19.." were changed editorially by the Revisors
to "20.." to reflect the new millennium); P.A. 07-80 divided section into Subsecs. (a), (b) and (c), made technical changes,
in Subsec. (b), required notice to specify reasons for proposed discontinuance or reduction of benefits and changed from
10 days to 15 days the time for employee to request hearing and, in Subsec. (c), required specified information in notice
and revised form.

Agreement for compensation approved by commissioner may be modified by him on facts not made known to him
though known to the parties. 95 C. 356. Widow bound by agreement signed by her and late husband. 120 C. 280. Cited.
126 C. 491; 128 C. 578; 151 C. 559. Agreement by which employer waived all further claims under Workmen's Compensation Act was binding on him as waiver of his subrogation rights under section 31-293. 157 C. 538. Cited. 159 C. 302.
Cited. 177 C. 107. Cited. 231 C. 287; Id., 469. Cited. 233 C. 14. Cited. 237 C. 259. Sums paid pursuant to voluntary
agreements are "compensation" and recoverable by employers or Second Injury Fund under Secs. 31-293 and 31-352. 259
C. 325.

Sec. 31-296a. Discontinuance or reduction of payments under oral
agreements. No employer shall discontinue or reduce payment on account of total or
partial incapacity under any oral agreement or in any case where the employer's acceptance of compensability has been conclusively presumed under subsection (b) of section
31-294c because of failure to file a timely notice contesting liability, if it is claimed by
or on behalf of the injured person that his incapacity still continues, unless such employer
notifies the commissioner and the employee of the proposed discontinuance or reduction
in the manner prescribed in section 31-296 and the commissioner specifically approves
such discontinuance or reduction in writing.

History: 1972 act prohibited discontinuing payments "in any case where the employer's acceptance of compensability
has been conclusively presumed ... because of failure to file a timely notice contesting liability"; P.A. 88-106 added the
provisions regarding the reduction of benefits; P.A. 92-31 made a technical change.

Sec. 31-297. Hearing of claims. If an employer and his injured employee, or his
legal representative, as the case may be, fail to reach an agreement in regard to compensation under the provisions of this chapter, either party may notify the commissioner of
the failure. Upon such notice, or upon the knowledge that an agreement has not been
reached in a case in which a right to compensation may exist, the commissioner shall
schedule an early hearing upon the matter, giving both parties notice of time and place
not less than ten days prior to the scheduled date; provided the commissioner may,
on finding an emergency to exist, give such notice as he finds reasonable under the
circumstances. If no agreement has been reached within sixty days after the date notice
of claim for compensation was received by the commissioner, as provided in section
31-294c, a formal hearing shall be scheduled on the claim and held within thirty days
after the end of the sixty-day period, except that if an earlier hearing date has previously
been scheduled, the earlier date shall prevail. Hearings shall be held, if practicable, in
the town in which the injured employee resides; or, if it is not practicable to hold a
hearing in the town, in any other convenient place that the commissioner may prescribe.
Sufficient notice of the hearing may be given to the parties in interest by a brief written
statement in ordinary terms of the date, place and nature of the injury upon which the
claim for compensation is based.

History: 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; 1967 act divided section into Subsecs., required filing of notice
on or before twentieth day after receipt of written notice of claim rather than after "knowledge of alleged injury or death"
and specified that employer's failure to file notice contesting liability results in presumption of his acceptance of liability;
P.A. 83-123 required that, if no voluntary agreement has been reached within 60 days of the filing of a notice of claim for
compensation, a formal hearing on the claim shall be scheduled and held within 30 days of the end of the 60-day period,
unless a prior hearing date was previously established; P.A. 89-31 added Subsec. (c), providing a 28-day period for an
employer to give notice that he contests a claim for injuries sustained on or after October 1, 1989; P.A. 90-116 provided
that the employer's failure to contest shall not constitute a conclusive presumption when the notice has not been properly
served or when the notice fails to include a warning concerning the time period to contest liability; P.A. 91-32 made
technical changes and deleted Subsecs. (b) and (c) re filing of notice that claim is contested, but see Sec. 31-294c.

Ten days' notice does not apply to hearing on motion for extension of time. 109 C. 469. Cited. 159 C. 302. The giving
of notice by the employer as to the specific grounds on which the right to compensation is contested is a condition precedent
to the defense of the action. 165 C. 338, 348. Cited. 227 C. 333. Cited. 239 C. 408.

Sec. 31-297a. Informal hearings. In any informal hearing held by the commissioner or chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission in regard to compensation under the provisions of this chapter, any recommendations made by the commissioner or chairman at the informal hearing shall be reduced to writing and, if the parties
accept such recommendations, the recommendations shall be as binding upon both parties as an award by the commissioner or chairman. The commissioner or chairman shall
not postpone any such informal hearing if one party fails to attend unless both parties
agree to the postponement.

Sec. 31-298. Conduct of hearings. Both parties may appear at any hearing, either
in person or by attorney or other accredited representative, and no formal pleadings
shall be required, beyond any informal notices that the commission approves. In all
cases and hearings under the provisions of this chapter, the commissioner shall proceed,
so far as possible, in accordance with the rules of equity. He shall not be bound by the
ordinary common law or statutory rules of evidence or procedure, but shall make inquiry,
through oral testimony, deposition testimony or written and printed records, in a manner
that is best calculated to ascertain the substantial rights of the parties and carry out the
provisions and intent of this chapter. No fees shall be charged to either party by the
commissioner in connection with any hearing or other procedure, but the commissioner
shall furnish at cost (1) certified copies of any testimony, award or other matter which
may be of record in his office, and (2) duplicates of audio cassette recordings of any
formal hearings. Witnesses subpoenaed by the commissioner shall be allowed the fees
and traveling expenses that are allowed in civil actions, to be paid by the party in whose
interest the witnesses are subpoenaed. When liability or extent of disability is contested
by formal hearing before the commissioner, the claimant shall be entitled, if he prevails
on final judgment, to payment for oral testimony or deposition testimony rendered on
his behalf by a competent physician, surgeon or other medical provider, including the
stenographic and videotape recording costs thereof, in connection with the claim, the
commissioner to determine the reasonableness of such charges.

History: 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; 1967, P.A. 242 added, "and attorney's fees for representation
of the claimant at the formal hearing," in the last sentence before "the commissioner to determine the reasonableness of
such charges." (Held repealed by implication, see 165 C. 338, 349.) 1967, P.A. 842 added reference to contest of extent
of liability and entitled claimant to one-fifth of weekly compensation for each day or portion of day he attends a formal
hearing if he is not receiving compensation at that time; 1971 act entitled claimant to reimbursement for wages lost because
he has been called to appear at conference or informal hearing; P.A. 85-65 required the commissioner to furnish to the
parties, at cost, duplicates of audio cassette recordings of any formal hearings; P.A. 91-32 made technical changes and
deleted provisions re reimbursement of wages lost by reason of appearance at a conference or informal hearing and provisions re payments made to claimants who prevail on final judgment; P.A. 93-228 added provision allowing use of deposition
testimony during workers' compensation hearings, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 97-106 added provisions entitling claimant
to payment for medical testimony if he prevails on final judgment.

See Sec. 52-260 re witness fees.

Admissions by insurance adjuster may be accepted by the commissioner. 93 C. 295. Conduct of hearing. 94 C. 9. Burden
of proof is on claimant; but may be sustained by reasonable inferences as well as by direct testimony. 95 C. 43. Declarations
by the decedent. 98 C. 649. Procedure simple and without pleadings. 106 C. 9. Conclusions reached by superintendent at
an immediate investigation. Id., 252. Claimant held not to have had an adequate hearing. 107 C. 457. Evidence which
commissioner may accept. Findings, to be open to attack, must be unreasonable to justify judicial interference. 109 C. 62.
Cited. 114 C. 29. Commissioner not bound by rules of evidence. 116 C. 297; 122 C. 360; 133 C. 667. Evidence that workers
in other factories under substantially same conditions do not contract disease is admissible. 118 C. 29. Commissioner judge
when conflicting medical testimony presented. 123 C. 405; 130 C. 455; 131 C. 484. Evidence as to extent of incapacity
from susceptibility to dermatitis necessary to finding of compensation commissioner. 125 C. 140. Commissioner judge of
fact. 128 C. 621. Burden of proof rests on claimant. 130 C. 1. Cited. 132 C. 172; 135 C. 504; 136 C. 345. Workmen's
compensation commissioner not bound by rules of evidence. 138 C. 53. While finding or conclusion of commissioner
based on conflicting medical opinions cannot be disturbed, such finding cannot be based on incompetent medical testimony
to which objection was seasonably made. 149 C. 118. Opinion of physician based wholly or partly on statements and
symptoms related to him by patient on personal examination is inadmissible where examination was made for purpose of
qualifying physician to testify as medical expert. Id., 119. Cited. 159 C. 302. Cited. 165 C. 338. Cited. 199 C. 667. Cited.
213 C. 54. Cited. 226 C. 508. Cited. 237 C. 1. Section addresses the conduct of hearings; does not provide commissioner
with any specific jurisdiction over particular types of claims or questions. 248 C. 754. Commissioner has authority to
dismiss claim without a hearing on the merits in an appropriate case. 254 C. 60.

Sec. 31-298a. Use of medical panel. Duties of commissioner and panel. Appeal.
Regulations. (a) A medical panel shall be established for use in solving controverted
medical issues in claims for workers' compensation due to occupational lung disease.
The American College of Chest Physicians shall submit to the chairman of the Workers'
Compensation Commission by October 10, 1981, and annually thereafter a list of five
to ten physicians who are expert in the diagnosis, care and treatment of occupational
lung disease for membership in the panel. In the event that no such list is submitted, the
chairman shall appoint to the panel five to ten licensed physicians who are expert in the
diagnosis, care and treatment of such diseases.

(b) In each occupational lung disease claim for workers' compensation where there
are controverted medical issues, the commissioner hearing the case may choose three
members of the medical panel for assistance in the case. The commissioner shall submit,
at his discretion and within thirty days after choosing said panel, interrogatories concerning the controverted medical issues to such three-member panel, along with whatever
evidence and materials the commissioner deems necessary for their consideration. The
three-member panel may examine the employee, who shall submit to any examination
such panel may require. Within sixty days of the submission of such interrogatories to
it, the three-member panel shall file with the commissioner its answers, report and findings on all such medical issues, along with any records generated from its work in the
case. The answers to the interrogatories and the contents of the report shall be determined
by majority vote of the three panel members.

(c) The answers to the interrogatories, report, findings and records of the three-member panel shall become part of the record of the hearing before the commissioner.
In making his decision in such a case, the commissioner shall conform his decision or
award to the findings of such panel as to medical issues. Either party may appeal the
decision of the commissioner to the Compensation Review Board according to the provisions of section 31-301.

(d) The chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to establish a fee schedule for the
payment of medical panel members. Sufficient funding for the payment of such fees
shall be supplied from the administrative costs fund, as provided in section 31-345.

Sec. 31-299. Prior statements of parties as evidence at hearings before commissioners. At any hearing before a compensation commissioner no written statement,
and no oral statement taken by means of tape recorder or any mechanical, electrical or
electronic device, concerning the facts out of which the claim arose or affecting such
claim, given by either party to the other, or to his agent, attorney or insurer, shall be
admissible in evidence unless a copy of the written statement or a transcript of the oral
statement, as the case may be, is retained by the party giving such statement or delivered
to him at the time such statement was given or within thirty days thereafter. In the case
of an oral statement taken by means of tape recorder or other mechanical, electrical
or electronic device, the person recording such oral statement shall prepare a full and
complete transcript thereof and submit it to the person giving such statement for signature and such transcript must be signed by the employee before such statement may be
used at any such hearing.

(b) Where an employer contests the compensability of an employee's claim for
compensation, and the employee has also filed a claim for benefits or services under
the employer's group health, medical, disability or hospitalization plan or policy, the
employer's health insurer may not delay or deny payment of benefits due to the employee
under the terms of the plan or policy by claiming that treatment for the employee's
injury or disease is the responsibility of the employer's workers' compensation insurer.
The health insurer may file a claim in its own right against the employer for the value
of benefits paid by the insurer within two years from payment of the benefits. The health
insurer shall not have a lien on the proceeds of any award or approval of any compromise
made by the commissioner pursuant to the employee's compensation claim, in accordance with the provisions of section 38a-470, unless the health insurer actually paid
benefits to or on behalf of the employee.

History: P.A. 84-139 added Subsec. (b), providing that an employer's health insurer may not deny benefits to an
otherwise eligible employee because that employee has filed a workers' compensation claim which has been contested;
P.A. 91-32 made technical changes; P.A. 93-228 amended Subsec. (b) to allow a health insurer to recover from an employer
the value of benefits paid to or on behalf of an employee for an injury compensable under this chapter and to prohibit a
health insurer who has not paid benefits to or on behalf of an injured employee from placing a lien on the employee's
workers' compensation award, effective July 1, 1993.

Sec. 31-299b. Initial liability of last employer. Reimbursement. If an employee
suffers an injury or disease for which compensation is found by the commissioner to
be payable according to the provisions of this chapter, the employer who last employed
the claimant prior to the filing of the claim, or the employer's insurer, shall be initially
liable for the payment of such compensation. The commissioner shall, within a reasonable period of time after issuing an award, on the basis of the record of the hearing,
determine whether prior employers, or their insurers, are liable for a portion of such
compensation and the extent of their liability. If prior employers are found to be so
liable, the commissioner shall order such employers or their insurers to reimburse the
initially liable employer or insurer according to the proportion of their liability. Reimbursement shall be made within ten days of the commissioner's order with interest, from
the date of the initial payment, at twelve per cent per annum. If no appeal from the
commissioner's order is taken by any employer or insurer within twenty days, the order
shall be final and may be enforced in the same manner as a judgment of the Superior
Court. For purposes of this section, the Second Injury Fund shall not be deemed an
employer or an insurer and shall be exempt from any liability. The amount of any compensation for which the Second Injury Fund would be liable except for the exemption
provided under this section shall be reallocated among any other employers, or their
insurers, who are liable for such compensation according to a ratio, the numerator of
which is the percentage of the total compensation for which an employer, or its insurer,
is liable and the denominator of which is the total percentage of liability of all employers,
or their insurers, excluding the percentage that would have been attributable to the Second Injury Fund, for such compensation.

(P.A. 81-155, S. 1; P.A. 01-22, S. 2; P.A. 05-199, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 01-22 increased time for taking an appeal from order of commissioner from 10 to 20 days; P.A. 05-199
provided that Second Injury Fund not be deemed an employer or insurer and be exempt from liability under section, and
that compensation otherwise attributable to fund be reallocated among any other liable employers or insurers according
to ratio, effective July 1, 2006.

Cited. 33 CA 695; judgment reversed, see 231 C. 469. Once commissioner concluded that claimant had not suffered a
new injury but had suffered complications from first injury, commissioner had authority to order former employer-insurer
to reimburse present employer-insurer. 121 CA 400.

Sec. 31-300. Award as judgment. Interest. Attorney's fee. Procedure on discontinuance or reduction. As soon as may be after the conclusion of any hearing, but
no later than one hundred twenty days after such conclusion, the commissioner shall
send to each party a written copy of the commissioner's findings and award. The commissioner shall, as part of the written award, inform the employee or the employee's
dependent, as the case may be, of any rights the individual may have to an annual cost-of-living adjustment or to participate in a rehabilitation program under the provisions
of this chapter. The commissioner shall retain the original findings and award in said
commissioner's office. If no appeal from the decision is taken by either party within
twenty days thereafter, such award shall be final and may be enforced in the same manner
as a judgment of the Superior Court. The court may issue execution upon any uncontested
or final award of a commissioner in the same manner as in cases of judgments rendered
in the Superior Court; and, upon the filing of an application to the court for an execution,
the commissioner in whose office the award is on file shall, upon the request of the clerk
of said court, send to the clerk a certified copy of such findings and award. In cases where,
through the fault or neglect of the employer or insurer, adjustments of compensation have
been unduly delayed, or where through such fault or neglect, payments have been unduly
delayed, the commissioner may include in the award interest at the rate prescribed in
section 37-3a and a reasonable attorney's fee in the case of undue delay in adjustments
of compensation and may include in the award in the case of undue delay in payments
of compensation, interest at twelve per cent per annum and a reasonable attorney's fee.
Payments not commenced within thirty-five days after the filing of a written notice of
claim shall be presumed to be unduly delayed unless a notice to contest the claim is
filed in accordance with section 31-297. In cases where there has been delay in either
adjustment or payment, which delay has not been due to the fault or neglect of the
employer or insurer, whether such delay was caused by appeals or otherwise, the commissioner may allow interest at such rate, not to exceed the rate prescribed in section
37-3a, as may be fair and reasonable, taking into account whatever advantage the employer or insurer, as the case may be, may have had from the use of the money, the
burden of showing that the rate in such case should be less than the rate prescribed in
section 37-3a to be upon the employer or insurer. In cases where the claimant prevails
and the commissioner finds that the employer or insurer has unreasonably contested
liability, the commissioner may allow to the claimant a reasonable attorney's fee. No
employer or insurer shall discontinue or reduce payment on account of total or partial
incapacity under any such award, if it is claimed by or on behalf of the injured person
that such person's incapacity still continues, unless such employer or insurer notifies
the commissioner and the employee of such proposed discontinuance or reduction in
the manner prescribed in section 31-296 and the commissioner specifically approves
such discontinuance or reduction in writing. The commissioner shall render the decision
within fourteen days of receipt of such notice and shall forward to all parties to the claim
a copy of the decision not later than seven days after the decision has been rendered. If
the decision of the commissioner finds for the employer or insurer, the injured person
shall return any wrongful payments received from the day designated by the commissioner as the effective date for the discontinuance or reduction of benefits. Any employee
whose benefits for total incapacity are discontinued under the provisions of this section
and who is entitled to receive benefits for partial incapacity as a result of an award, shall
receive those benefits commencing the day following the designated effective date for
the discontinuance of benefits for total incapacity. In any case where the commissioner
finds that the employer or insurer has discontinued or reduced any such payment without
having given such notice and without the commissioner having approved such discontinuance or reduction in writing, the commissioner shall allow the claimant a reasonable
attorney's fee together with interest at the rate prescribed in section 37-3a on the discontinued or reduced payments.

History: 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; 1967 acts deleted references to "original findings" and specified
that claimant may be allowed reasonable attorneys fees where commissioner finds that employer or insurer has unreasonably
contested liability; P.A. 75-122 added provisions re procedure for discontinuance of payments; P.A. 79-80 specified that
6% interest applies "in the case of undue delay in adjustments of compensation", allowed 12% interest where there is
undue delay in payments and defined undue delay; P.A. 83-114 provided that the commissioner shall inform the individual,
as part of the written award, of his rights to an annual cost-of-living adjustment under this chapter; P.A. 84-180 required
the commissioner to inform the employee in the award of his right to participate in a rehabilitation program; P.A. 84-299
provided that payments not made within 35 days after the filing of a claim shall be considered "unduly delayed" unless
the claim has been timely contested; P.A. 85-64 required the commissioner to send each party a written copy of his award
within 120 days of the conclusion of hearings on the claim; P.A. 88-106 added the provisions regarding reduction of
benefits and provided for an award of attorneys' fees in cases of undue delay in adjustments and payments resulting from
the fault or neglect of an employer or insurer; P.A. 89-17 increased the rate of interest from 6% to 10% for all cases except
cases where payments are discontinued or reduced without notice and approval; P.A. 89-316 changed the rates of allowable
interest from specific percentages enacted under P.A. 89-17 to the rate prescribed in Sec. 37-3a; P.A. 91-339 required the
commissioner to send to each party a written copy of his findings; P.A. 93-228 added provisions modifying procedures re
discontinuances or reductions in workers' compensation benefits, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 01-22 increased time for
taking an appeal from the decision of the commissioner from 10 to 20 days and made technical changes for the purpose
of gender neutrality.

What the finding should contain. 90 C. 540; 94 C. 262; Id., 627; 96 C. 354; 97 C. 78; 114 C. 393; 117 C. 603. Commissioner may make his memorandum of decision part of the finding. 100 C. 389; 103 C. 104; Id., 428. Prolix and evidential
finding criticized. 103 C. 708. Commissioner must expressly find subordinate facts on which his conclusions rest. 104 C.
463. When award not appealed from, finding becomes final on subsequent hearing for further compensation. 109 C. 599.
When award becomes final judgment. 112 C. 370. When it appears claimant may establish claim on retrial, case is remanded.
118 C. 29; 130 C. 1. Motion to erase proper method to raise question whether there was a judgment from which appeal
might be taken. 123 C. 103. Finding as to causal connection. Id., 405. Correction of finding. 124 C. 296; 130 C. 423; Id.,
478; Id., 482. Finding of incapacity must be based on extent and consequent loss of earning power due to susceptibility
due to dermatitis. 125 C. 140. Award may be enforced in same manner as judgment of superior court. 126 C. 491. Judgment
of superior court interlocutory ruling, not final. Id., 522. Cited. 165 C. 338. All appeals since 1972 amendments should be
taken from the court of common pleas. Hence reservation from the superior court under section 31-324 was dismissed for
lack of jurisdiction. 168 C. 84. Cited. 169 C. 646. Cited. 208 C. 576. Cited. 212 C. 441. Cited. 219 C. 439. Cited. 224 C.
441. Cited. 237 C. 71; Id., 378. Attorney's fees awarded under section do not constitute "payments due under an award"
pursuant to Sec. 31-303, and are not subject to a penalty as a late payment thereunder. 260 C. 21.

Where no specific time limit set under statute for finding and award to be made, commissioner does not lose jurisdiction
to render decision after certain lapse of time. 2 CA 689. Cited. 7 CA 142. Cited. 12 CA 138. Cited. 21 CA 464. Cited. 22
CA 539; judgment reversed and case remanded to appellate court with direction to affirm decision of compensation review
division, see 219 C. 439. Cited. 26 CA 194. Cited. 28 CA 113. Cited. 33 CA 667. Cited. 39 CA 717. Cited. 40 CA 36.
Cited. 45 CA 324; Id., 499. Plaintiff's conduct constituted an implied waiver of her right to have commissioner's decision
vacated for failure to issue decision within time limit. 49 CA 339. Court was within discretion to deny request to execute
a voluntary agreement that was not a final settlement; section granted trial court subject matter jurisdiction in matter. 58
CA 45. Finding that employer or insurer acted in an unreasonable manner or caused undue delay is necessary to predicate
an order to pay attorney's fees pursuant to this statute. 65 CA 592. Where commissioner failed to issue decision within
mandatory time period and defendant objected to the decision on the day of its eventual issuance, it was held that defendant
had not waived any objection to the late issuance since there is no requirement that a party object to a decision prior to its
issuance. 72 CA 497. A challenge to the commission's jurisdiction when an employee and employer have entered into a
voluntary agreement does not in itself constitute acting in an unreasonable manner, and a determination otherwise would
discourage parties from quickly entering into such agreements. 123 CA 753.

Award has the force of judgment but execution on plaintiff's award was denied where defendant had action pending
in superior court to determine whether plaintiff could keep award and retain proceeds from a Massachusetts death action
based on same loss. 27 CS 382. Cited. 28 CS 5. Cited. 39 CS 386.

Sec. 31-301. Appeals to the Compensation Review Board. Payment of award
during pendency of appeal. (a) At any time within twenty days after entry of an award
by the commissioner, after a decision of the commissioner upon a motion or after an
order by the commissioner according to the provisions of section 31-299b, either party
may appeal therefrom to the Compensation Review Board by filing in the office of the
commissioner from which the award or the decision on a motion originated an appeal
petition and five copies thereof. The commissioner within three days thereafter shall
mail the petition and three copies thereof to the chief of the Compensation Review Board
and a copy thereof to the adverse party or parties. If a party files a motion subsequent
to the finding and award, order or decision, the twenty-day period for filing an appeal
of an award or an order by the commissioner shall commence on the date of the decision
on such motion.

(b) The appeal shall be heard by the Compensation Review Board as provided in
section 31-280b. The Compensation Review Board shall hear the appeal on the record
of the hearing before the commissioner, provided, if it is shown to the satisfaction of
the board that additional evidence or testimony is material and that there were good
reasons for failure to present it in the proceedings before the commissioner, the Compensation Review Board may hear additional evidence or testimony.

(c) Upon the final determination of the appeal by the Compensation Review Board,
but no later than one year after the date the appeal petition was filed, the Compensation
Review Board shall issue its decision, affirming, modifying or reversing the decision
of the commissioner. The decision of the Compensation Review Board shall include its
findings, conclusions of law and award.

(d) When any appeal is pending, and it appears to the Compensation Review Board
that any part of the award appealed from is not affected by the issues raised by the
appeal, the Compensation Review Board may, on motion or of its own motion, render
a judgment directing compliance with any portion of the award not affected by the
appeal; or if the only issue raised by the appeal is the amount of the average weekly
wage for the purpose of determining the amount of compensation, as provided in section
31-310, the commissioner shall, on motion of the claimant, direct the payment of the
portion of the compensation payable under his award that is not in dispute, if any, pending
final adjudication of the disputed portion thereof. In all appeals in which one of the
parties is not represented by counsel, and in which the party taking the appeal does not
prosecute the case within a reasonable time from the date of appeal, the Compensation
Review Board may, of its own motion, affirm, reverse or modify the award.

(e) When an appeal is taken to the Compensation Review Board, the chief clerk
thereof shall notify the commissioner from whose award the appeal was taken, in writing,
of any action of the Compensation Review Board thereon and of the final disposition
of the appeal, whether by judgment, withdrawal or otherwise, and shall upon the decision
of the appeal, furnish the commissioner with a copy of the decision. Whenever any
appeal is pending, if it appears to the Compensation Review Board that justice so requires, the Compensation Review Board shall order a certified copy of the evidence for
the use of the employer, the employee or both, and the certified copy shall be made
a part of the record on the appeal. The procedure in appealing from an award of the
commissioner shall be the same as the procedure employed in an appeal from the Superior Court to the Supreme Court, where applicable. The chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of
chapter 54, to establish rules, methods of procedure and forms as the chairman deems
expedient for the purposes of this chapter.

(f) During the pendency of any appeal of an award made pursuant to this chapter,
the claimant shall receive all compensation and medical treatment payable under the
terms of the award to the extent the compensation and medical treatment are not being
paid by any health insurer or by any insurer or employer who has been ordered, pursuant
to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, to pay a portion of the award. The
compensation and medical treatment shall be paid by the employer or its insurer.

(g) If the final adjudication results in the denial of compensation to the claimant,
and he has previously received compensation on the claim pursuant to subsection (f)
and this subsection, the claimant shall reimburse the employer or its insurer for all sums
previously expended, plus interest at the rate of ten per cent per annum. Upon any such
denial of compensation, the commissioner who originally heard the case or his successor
shall conduct a hearing to determine the repayment schedule for the claimant.

History: 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; 1963 act allowed appeals after commissioner's decision upon
a motion and required that appeals be made to court for county where injury occurred rather than county where award was
filed, adding provision re court for appeal when injury occurred outside state; 1967 act deleted references to findings of
commissioners and specified that appeal procedure is same as for appeals from superior court to supreme court; 1972 act
replaced superior court with court of common pleas throughout section, effective September 1, 1972, except that courts
with cases pending retain jurisdiction; P.A. 74-183 added references to judicial districts and made appeal procedure same
as for appeals from court of common pleas to superior court, effective December 31, 1974; P.A. 76-436 replaced court of
common pleas with superior court and deleted provision re appeal procedure, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 78-280 deleted
references to counties; P.A. 79-540 replaced provisions re appeals to superior court with new provisions re appeals to
compensation review division; P.A. 81-155 permitted the appeal of orders made by the commissioner according to the
provisions of Sec. 31-299b; P.A. 81-472 made technical changes; P.A. 84-133 added Subsec. (b), providing for the payment
of compensation and benefits due under an occupational disease award during the pendency of any appeal of such award;
P.A. 86-27 provided that compensation and benefits due under any award made pursuant to this chapter shall be paid by
the second injury fund during the pendency of any appeal of the award; P.A. 86-56 required the compensation review
division to issue its decision on any appeal within one year of the filing of the appeal petition, except that any decision on
an appeal pending on October 1, 1986, shall be issued within one year of said date; P.A. 91-32 divided existing Subsec.
(a) into Subsecs. (a) to (e), inclusive, divided existing Subsec. (b) into Subsecs. (f) and (g) and made technical changes;
P.A. 91-339 changed "compensation review division" to "compensation review board", changed "chairman" to "chief"
of the board, added reference to Sec. 31-380b in Subsec. (b) and authorized the chairman of the workers' compensation
commission to adopt regulations in Subsec. (e); P.A. 95-277 amended Subsec. (f) to provide that the compensation and
medical treatment of the injured employee be paid by the employer or its insurer rather than Second Injury Fund and, in
Subsec. (g) substituted references to "Second Injury Fund" with "employer or its insurer" to reflect the closing of the
Second Injury Fund and deleted provision re reimbursement of Second Injury Fund by employer, effective July 1, 1995;
P.A. 01-22 amended Subsec. (a) by increasing the time to take an appeal from 10 to 20 days; P.A. 07-31 amended Subsec.
(a) by commencing 20-day period for filing appeal, where motion filed subsequent to finding and award, order or decision,
on date of decision on motion.

Appeal does not open the case for trial de novo. 89 C. 143, 150; Id., 370; 92 C. 90. The commissioner's finding is part
of the record and may be corrected by the superior court in the same manner as the finding of a trial court by the supreme
court. 90 C. 446; 91 C. 531; 92 C. 90; 93 C. 94; 95 C. 673; 96 C. 634; 98 C. 287; Id., 755; 99 C. 355; 103 C. 429; 104 C.
537; 107 C. 251. Reasons of appeal and answer thereto should be filed in the court. 91 C. 227. What justifies setting award
aside. 93 C. 83; 94 C. 9; 96 C. 299. If the court materially alters the finding, it should recommit it to the commissioner to
decide on the altered facts. 97 C. 77; 106 C. 254. Conclusion of fact based on subordinate facts is reviewable by the court.
100 C. 347; 102 C. 5; Id., 237; Id., 472. There is no appeal from refusal of commissioner to rehear the case or alter his
finding. 101 C. 358; 108 C. 161. Where the facts found are too indefinite to support the award, finding should be recommitted
to commissioner. 102 C. 238; 106 C. 215; Id., 253; 107 C. 171; Id., 647. Nature of the appeal and correction of finding by
superior court fully reviewed. 102 C. 514. Court should not set aside award because it differs with the commissioner as to
preponderance of evidence. 106 C. 109. There is no appeal from an award of commissioner made in compliance with the
decision of the superior court on a former appeal; appeal must be to the supreme court from the superior court decision.
108 C. 159. Expense of printing testimony not taxable as costs on appeal. 109 C. 737. Superior court cannot change finding
unless commissioner has found facts without evidence or has reached unreasonable conclusions. 120 C. 606; 121 C. 56;
Id., 483; Id., 541; Id., 708; 122 C. 129. When entire transcript may properly be filed. 121 C. 274. When testimony necessary
for proper determination of case is not presented, case remanded for further hearing. Id. Motion to erase proper method
to raise question whether there was a judgment from which appeal might be taken. 123 C. 103. Cited. 132 C. 209. Where
motion to open award is made by party who intends to appeal from award if motion is denied, he may postpone the filing
of the appeal until the motion is determined. 134 C. 269. Where commissioner failed to pass upon specific claim potentially
decisive of the case, it should be returned for further proceedings. 138 C. 482. Cited. 141 C. 321. Section affects the court
to which appeal is taken not employee's right to compensation. Appeal brought to superior court after Sept. 1, 1972 was
brought to wrong court and superior court has no jurisdiction. 169 C. 646. Cited. 179 C. 662. Cited. 207 C. 420. Cited.
213 C. 54. Cited. 217 C. 143. Cited. 220 C. 739. Cited. 232 C. 758. Cited. 233 C. 14. Cited. 235 C. 790. Cited. 239 C. 408.
Cited. 240 C. 788. Provision re payment deadline applies when payment is due under an award by compensation review
board. 249 C. 365. Ten-day appeal period tolled when aggrieved party establishes that, through no fault of his own, he did
not receive notice of commissioner's decision within ten days of the date it was sent. 250 C. 581. Provision re ten-day
period for appeal commences on the date notice is sent to a party's counsel. Id., 592.

Authority to extend time for taking an appeal. 9 CS 38. Imposes on party seeking the order, the burden of showing (1)
inability to pay and (2) that justice requires the action of the commissioner be appealed from. Id., 379. A plea in abatement
and not a motion to expunge is appropriate remedy to attack appeal not brought within ten days. 15 CS 33. Cited. 17 CS
288; 27 CS 410. Amendment of October 1, 1967, applied to pending appeal which was then dismissed for failure to
prosecute with due diligence. 24 CS 411. Cited. 38 CS 648.

Cited. 33 CA 495. Proper interpretation of limitation period contained in this section is that ten-day period begins to
run on day on which party wanting appeal is sent meaningful notice of commissioner's decision. 36 CA 298. Cited. 37
CA 392. Cited. 46 CA 298. Ten-day appeal period begins to run on day on which party wanting to appeal is sent meaningful
notice of commissioner's decision. 49 CA 1. Notice must be sent directly to plaintiff, not plaintiff's attorney, in order for
appeal period to commence. 51 CA 92. An appeal taken from a supplemental order directing the Second Injury Fund to
compensate plaintiff is not a timely appeal challenging the findings and awards preceding that order if that appeal was
taken outside the mandated twenty days from the issuing of the operative finding and award. 114 CA 58. The time limitation
on an appeal from the finding and award of a worker's compensation commissioner imposed by Subsec. does not deprive
the appellate tribunal of subject matter jurisdiction over the appeal. Id., 81.

Subsec. (b):

Cited. 227 C. 333. Cited. 231 C. 287.

Subsec. (c):

It is implicit in statutory authority to reverse a decision of the trial commissioner that board may remand a case for a
new hearing. 251 C. 153. Legislature did not intend to impose unstated limitations on review board's discretion to order
appropriately adjudicated new hearings. Id.

Cited. 34 CA 673.

Subsec. (f):

Should be applied retroactively to all cases not actually transferred to the fund prior to the date provision became
effective; concurring opinion based on legislative intent. 243 C. 311.

Sec. 31-301a. Decision of Compensation Review Board. Any decision of the
Compensation Review Board, in the absence of an appeal therefrom, shall become final
after a period of twenty days has expired from the issuance of notice of the rendition of
the judgment or decision.

Sec. 31-301b. Appeal of decision of Compensation Review Board. Any party
aggrieved by the decision of the Compensation Review Board upon any question or
questions of law arising in the proceedings may appeal the decision of the Compensation
Review Board to the Appellate Court, whether or not the decision is a final decision
within the meaning of section 4-183 or a final judgment within the meaning of section
52-263.

History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29 deleted reference to appellate session of the superior court and included reference
to appellate court; P.A. 91-339 changed "compensation review division" to "compensation review board"; P.A. 09-178
added provision re appeal to Appellate Court whether or not decision is a final decision or a final judgment, effective June
30, 2009.

Cited. 193 C. 59. Cited. 206 C. 242. Cited. 218 C. 181. Cited. 219 C. 674. Cited. 223 C. 376. Cited. 226 C. 569. Cited.
227 C. 261. Cited. 228 C. 401; Id., 535. Cited. 231 C. 287; Id., 469. Cited. 235 C. 790. Cited. 239 C. 676. Cited. 241 C.
282. Awards become final if and when parties fail to appeal within applicable statutory time period and are not "pending
matters" subject to modification based on subsequent changes in law. 244 C. 1. Defendant was an aggrieved party for
purpose of appeal to Appellate Court. 245 C. 437. In order for decision of review board to be appealable under this section,
it must be a decision that has the same elements of finality as a final judgment rendered by a trial court. 246 C. 281. Meaning
of "any party" discussed. 250 C. 147. Appeal dismissed due to lack of a final judgment in matter that required a remand
to worker's compensation commissioner to apportion liability. 282 C. 386. Sec. 1-2z does not overrule prior case law
importing a final judgment requirement into this section. Id., 477.

Sec. 31-301c. Costs of appeal. Interest added to award affirmed on appeal.
(a) No costs shall be taxed in favor of either party on any such appeal either in the
Compensation Review Board or in the Appellate Court, and no party shall be liable to
pay any fees or costs in connection therewith, except the record fee on appeal to the
Supreme Court; provided, if an appeal is taken to the Appellate Court from a decision
of the Compensation Review Board, and such appeal is found by said court to be either
frivolous or taken for the purpose of vexation or delay, said court may tax costs in its
discretion against the person so taking the appeal.

(b) Whenever an employer or his insurer appeals a commissioner's award, and upon
completion of the appeal process the employer or insurer loses such appeal, the Compensation Review Board or the Appellate Court, as the case may be, shall add interest on
the amount of such award affirmed on appeal and not paid to the claimant during the
pendency of such appeal, from the date of the original award to the date of the final
appeal decision, at the rate prescribed in section 37-3a.

History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29 deleted reference to appellate session of the superior court and added reference to
appellate court; P.A. 84-288 added Subsec. (b), which provides that the final arbiter of an appeal on an award shall add
6% interest to the amount of the award which is unpaid and affirmed by his decision; P.A. 89-316 amended Subsec. (b) to
change the rate of interest from 6% per annum to the rate "prescribed in section 37-3a"; P.A. 91-339 changed "compensation
review division" to "compensation review board".

Sec. 31-301d. Power of Compensation Review Board re witnesses and production of evidence. Enforcement of order. The Compensation Review Board and each
member thereof shall have the same power in summoning and examining witnesses and
in requiring production of evidence as is vested in each commissioner under section 31-278. The Superior Court, on application of the chief of the Compensation Review Board,
may enforce by appropriate decree or process, any provision of this chapter or any proper
order of the Compensation Review Board rendered pursuant to any such provision.

Sec. 31-302. Payment of compensation. Commutation into monthly, quarterly
or lump sums. Compensation payable under this chapter shall be paid at the particular
times in the week and in the manner the commissioner may order, and shall be paid
directly to the persons entitled to receive them unless the commissioner, for good reason,
orders payment to those entitled to act for such persons, except that when the commissioner finds it just or necessary, the commissioner may approve or direct the commutation, in whole or in part, of weekly compensation under the provisions of this chapter
into monthly or quarterly payments, or into a single lump sum, which may be paid to
the one then entitled to the compensation, and the commutation shall be binding upon all
persons entitled to compensation for the injury in question. In any case of commutation, a
true equivalence of value shall be maintained, with due discount of sums payable in the
future; and, when commutation is made into a single lump sum, (1) the commissioner
may direct that it be paid to any savings bank, trust company or life insurance company
authorized to do business within this state, to be held in trust for the beneficiary or
beneficiaries under the provisions of this chapter and paid in conformity with the provisions of this chapter, and (2) the parties, by agreement and with approval of the commissioner, may prorate the single lump sum over the life expectancy of the injured employee.

Commutation can be made only when the compensation period is definite. 96 C. 674; 98 C. 236; 108 C. 644. When
commutation may be made in cases of total or partial incapacity. 120 C. 541. Award commuted into lump sum becomes
final judgment. 126 C. 491. Award did not establish existence of a compensable claim. 137 C. 185. Cited. 208 C. 576.
Cited. 226 C. 569.

Cited. 26 CA 194.

Record of agreement for lump-sum payment improperly excluded in action for damages for injury to person since it
would have contradicted plaintiff's statement that at time of injury sued on he was suffering from no other disability. 3
Conn. Cir. Ct. 371.

Sec. 31-303. Day when compensation payments become due. Penalty for late
payments. Payments agreed to under a voluntary agreement shall commence on or
before the twentieth day from the date of agreement. Payments due under an award shall
commence on or before the twentieth day from the date of such award. Payments due
from the Second Injury Fund shall be payable on or before the twentieth business day
after receipt of a fully executed agreement. Any employer who fails to pay within the
prescribed time limitations of this section shall pay a penalty for each late payment, in
the amount of twenty per cent of such payment, in addition to any other interest or
penalty imposed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

History: 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; P.A. 89-70 added the provision allowing the second injury
fund ten business days to make payments; P.A. 93-228 added provision imposing 20% penalty, in addition to interest and
other existing penalties, on compensation payments which are paid more than ten days after the date of the agreement or
award, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 04-47 replaced references to "tenth" day with references to "twentieth" day, effective
May 4, 2004.

Cited. 233 C. 14. Phrase "payments due under an award" does not encompass attorney's fees included in an award
pursuant to Sec. 31-300, and such attorney's fees are not subject to penalty as a late payment thereunder. 260 C. 21.

Penalty provision applicable to workers' compensation cases resolved by stipulation. 54 CA 841. Penalty provision
may be applied before effective date. Id. Section is not ambiguous and, when read with Sec. 31-301(f) and (g), requires
payment to commence within 20 days of order for payment pending appeal of award or imposition of 20 per cent late fee.
114 CA 822.

Sec. 31-304. Destruction of agreement. Any judge of the Superior Court may
order that the original of any approved agreement between an employer and an injured
employee as to compensation, filed in the office of any clerk of the Superior Court
pursuant to any provision of this chapter more than ten years prior to the date of such
order, may be destroyed by the person having the custody thereof.

(1) Four thousand dollars shall be paid for burial expenses in any case in which the
employee died on or after October 1, 1988. If there is no one wholly or partially dependent upon the deceased employee, the burial expenses of four thousand dollars shall be
paid to the person who assumes the responsibility of paying the funeral expenses.

(2) To those wholly dependent upon the deceased employee at the date of the deceased employee's injury, a weekly compensation equal to seventy-five per cent of the
average weekly earnings of the deceased calculated pursuant to section 31-310, after
such earnings have been reduced by any deduction for federal or state taxes, or both,
and for the federal Insurance Contributions Act made from such employee's total wages
received during the period of calculation of the employee's average weekly wage pursuant to said section 31-310, as of the date of the injury but not more than the maximum
weekly compensation rate set forth in section 31-309 for the year in which the injury
occurred or less than twenty dollars weekly. (A) The weekly compensation rate of each
dependent entitled to receive compensation under this section as a result of death arising
from a compensable injury occurring on or after October 1, 1977, shall be adjusted
annually as provided in this subdivision as of the following October first, and each
subsequent October first, to provide the dependent with a cost-of-living adjustment in
the dependent's weekly compensation rate as determined as of the date of the injury
under section 31-309. If the maximum weekly compensation rate, as determined under
the provisions of said section 31-309, to be effective as of any October first following
the date of the injury, is greater than the maximum weekly compensation rate prevailing
at the date of the injury, the weekly compensation rate which the injured employee was
entitled to receive at the date of the injury or October 1, 1990, whichever is later, shall
be increased by the percentage of the increase in the maximum weekly compensation
rate required by the provisions of said section 31-309 from the date of the injury or
October 1, 1990, whichever is later, to such October first. The cost-of-living increases
provided under this subdivision shall be paid by the employer without any order or
award from the commissioner. The adjustments shall apply to each payment made in
the next succeeding twelve-month period commencing with the October first next succeeding the date of the injury. With respect to any dependent receiving benefits on
October 1, 1997, with respect to any injury occurring on or after July 1, 1993, and before
October 1, 1997, such benefit shall be recalculated to October 1, 1997, as if such benefits
had been subject to recalculation annually under this subparagraph. The difference between the amount of any benefits that would have been paid to such dependent if such
benefits had been subject to such recalculation and the actual amount of benefits paid
during the period between such injury and such recalculation shall be paid to the dependent not later than December 1, 1997, in a lump-sum payment. The employer or its
insurer shall be reimbursed by the Second Injury Fund, as provided in section 31-354,
for adjustments, including lump-sum payments, payable under this subparagraph for
deaths from compensable injuries occurring on or after July 1, 1993, and before October
1, 1997, upon presentation of any vouchers and information that the Treasurer shall
require. No claim for payment of retroactive benefits may be made to the Second Injury
Fund more than two years after the date on which the employer or its insurer paid such
benefits in accordance with this subparagraph. (B) The weekly compensation rate of
each dependent entitled to receive compensation under this section as a result of death
arising from a compensable injury occurring on or before September 30, 1977, shall be
adjusted as of October 1, 1977, and October 1, 1980, and thereafter, as provided in
this subdivision to provide the dependent with partial cost-of-living adjustments in the
dependent's weekly compensation rate. As of October 1, 1977, the weekly compensation
rate paid prior to October 1, 1977, to the dependent shall be increased by twenty-five
per cent. The partial cost-of-living adjustment provided under this subdivision shall be
paid by the employer without any order or award from the commissioner. In addition,
on each October first, the weekly compensation rate of each dependent as of October
1, 1990, shall be increased by the percentage of the increase in the maximum compensation rate over the maximum compensation rate of October 1, 1990, as determined under
the provisions of section 31-309 existing on October 1, 1977. The cost of the adjustments
shall be paid by the employer or its insurance carrier who shall be reimbursed for such
cost from the Second Injury Fund as provided in section 31-354 upon presentation of
any vouchers and information that the Treasurer shall require. No claim for payment of
retroactive benefits may be made to the Second Injury Fund more than two years after
the date on which the employer or its insurance carrier paid such benefits in accordance
with this subparagraph.

(3) If the surviving spouse is the sole presumptive dependent, compensation shall
be paid until death or remarriage.

(4) If there is a presumptive dependent spouse surviving and also one or more presumptive dependent children, all of which children are either children of the surviving
spouse or are living with the surviving spouse, the entire compensation shall be paid to
the surviving spouse in the same manner and for the same period as if the surviving
spouse were the sole dependent. If, however, any of the presumptive dependent children
are neither children of the surviving spouse nor living with the surviving spouse, the
compensation shall be divided into as many parts as there are presumptive dependents.
The shares of any children having a presumptive dependent parent shall be added to the
share of the parent and shall be paid to the parent. The share of any dependent child not
having a surviving dependent parent shall be paid to the father or mother of the child
with whom the child may be living, or to the legal guardian of the child, or to any other
person, for the benefit of the child, as the commissioner may direct.

(5) If the compensation being paid to the surviving presumptive dependent spouse
terminates for any reason, or if there is no surviving presumptive dependent spouse at
the time of the death of the employee, but there is at either time one or more presumptive
dependent children, the compensation shall be paid to the children as a class, each child
sharing equally with the others. Each child shall receive compensation until the child
reaches the age of eighteen or dies before reaching age eighteen, provided the child
shall continue to receive compensation up to the attainment of the age of twenty-two if
unmarried and a full-time student, except any child who has attained the age of twenty-two while a full-time student but has not completed the requirements for, or received,
a degree from a postsecondary educational institution shall be deemed not to have attained age twenty-two until the first day of the first month following the end of the
quarter or semester in which the child is enrolled at the time, or if the child is not enrolled
in a quarter or semester system, until the first day of the first month following the
completion of the course in which the child is enrolled or until the first day of the third
month beginning after such time, whichever occurs first. When a child's participation
ceases, such child's share shall be divided among the remaining eligible dependent
children, provided if any child, when the child reaches the age of eighteen years, is
physically or mentally incapacitated from earning, the child's right to compensation
shall not terminate but shall continue for the full period of incapacity.

(6) In all cases where there are no presumptive dependents, but where there are one
or more persons wholly dependent in fact, the compensation in case of death shall be
divided according to the relative degree of their dependence. Compensation payable
under this subdivision shall be paid for not more than three hundred and twelve weeks
from the date of the death of the employee. The compensation, if paid to those wholly
dependent in fact, shall be paid at the full compensation rate. The compensation, if paid
to those partially dependent in fact upon the deceased employee as of the date of the
injury, shall not, in total, be more than the full compensation rate nor less than twenty
dollars weekly, nor, if the average weekly sum contributed by the deceased at the date
of the injury to those partially dependent in fact is more than twenty dollars weekly, not
more than the sum so contributed.

(7) When the sole presumptive dependents are, at the time of the injury, nonresident
aliens and the deceased has in this state some person or persons who are dependent in
fact, the commissioner may in the commissioner's discretion equitably apportion the
sums payable as compensation to the dependents.

(b) The dependents of any deceased employee who was injured on or after January
1, 1974, and who subsequently dies shall be paid compensation on account of the death
retroactively to the date of the employee's death. The cost of the payment or adjustment
shall be paid by the employer or its insurance carrier who shall be reimbursed for such
cost from the Second Injury Fund as provided in section 31-354 upon presentation of
any vouchers and information that the Treasurer shall require.

(c) (1) The dependents of any deceased employee who was injured between January 1, 1952, and December 31, 1973, and who subsequently dies, shall be paid compensation on account of the death retroactively to the date of the employee's death. The cost
of the payment or adjustment shall be paid by the employer or its insurance carrier who
shall be reimbursed for such cost from the Second Injury Fund as provided in section
31-354 upon presentation of any vouchers and information that the Treasurer shall require. No claim for payment of retroactive benefits may be made to the Second Injury
Fund more than two years after the date on which the employer or its insurance carrier
paid such benefits in accordance with this subdivision.

(2) The dependents of any deceased employee who was injured before January 1,
1952, and who died on or before October 1, 1991, shall be paid compensation on account
of the death retroactively to the date of the employee's death. The cost of the payment
or adjustment shall be paid by the employer or its insurance carrier who shall be reimbursed for such cost from the Second Injury Fund as provided in section 31-354 upon
presentation of any vouchers and information that the Treasurer shall require. No claim
for payment of retroactive benefits may be made to the Second Injury Fund more than
two years after the date on which the employer or its insurance carrier paid such benefits
in accordance with this subdivision.

(d) The dependents of any deceased employee who was injured in an accident arising out of and in the course of employment before January 1, 1952, and who died, as a
result of those injuries, after October 1, 1991, shall be paid compensation, under the
provisions of this section, effective as of the date of death of any such employee. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the weekly compensation
rate for such dependents shall equal the amount of compensation the injured employee
was receiving prior to death pursuant to section 31-307. Such weekly compensation rate
shall hereafter be adjusted in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this
section. The cost of such payment or adjustment shall be paid by the employer or the
insurance carrier of such employer who shall be reimbursed for such cost from the
Second Injury Fund provided for in section 31-354. No claim for payment of retroactive
benefits may be made to the Second Injury Fund more than two years after the date on
which the employer or its insurance carrier paid such benefits in accordance with this
subsection.

History: 1959 act replaced previous provisions and was in turn replaced by provisions of 1961 act; 1967 act increased
payments for burial expenses from $500 to $1,000 in all cases where previously $1,000 payment was given to father,
mother, brother, sister, son or daughter of deceased in Subsec. (a) and raised weekly compensation allowed in Subsec. (b)
from 60% to 66.66% of deceased's average weekly earnings; P.A. 77-554 increased burial payments to $1,500 and deleted
requirement that death must have occurred within six years of date of injury or first manifestation of occupational disease
symptoms in Subsec. (b), added provisions re cost-of-living adjustments in Subsec. (b) and amended Subsec. (c) to allow
compensation to widows and widowers on same basis where previously widowers' payments terminated after 312 weeks;
P.A. 78-369 reorganized Subsecs., designating former Subsecs. (a) to (h) as Subdivs. (1) to (8) under Subsec. (b) and
deleted former Subsec. (i) re reduction of compensation period by the period for which payments were made to deceased
if death occurred more than two years from date of injury or manifestation of disease symptoms; P.A. 80-124 specified in
Subsec. (b)(2) that time of injury is date of incapacity to work because of disease in cases involving occupational disease;
P.A. 80-284 added Subsec. (a)(4) re unmarried children, rephrased Subsec. (b)(5) accordingly and deleted Subdiv. (6);
P.A. 80-329 added provisions re cost-of-living adjustments as of October 1, 1980; P.A. 84-453 amended Subsec. (b)(1)
to increase burial expense benefits from $1,500 to $3,000; P.A. 88-92 amended Subsec. (b)(1) to increase burial expense
benefits from three to $4,000; P.A. 89-68 added Subsec. (c) providing for the payment of compensation to dependents of
deceased employees who were injured on or after January 1, 1974, and who died not later than December 31, 1981; P.A.
91-32 deleted existing Subsec. (a) which had detailed persons to be considered wholly dependent on a deceased employee,
relettering remaining Subsecs. accordingly and made technical changes; P.A. 91-339 changed the weekly compensation
allowed in Subsec. (a)(2) from 66.66% of average weekly earnings to 80% of average weekly earnings reduced by deductions for federal taxes and FICA; P.A. 92-31 amended Subsec. (a)(1) to provide that burial expenses shall be paid in any
case where the employee died on or after October 1, 1988, amended Subsec. (a)(2) to provide that cost-of-living increases
shall be calculated using a percentage instead of a dollar amount, and amended Subsec. (b) to authorize the payment of
compensation to dependents of deceased employees who died not later than November 1, 1991; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-11 added Subsec. (c) (Revisor's note: A reference to "second injury and compensation assurance fund" was changed
editorially by the Revisors to read "second injury fund" for consistency with section 38 of public act 91-32); P.A. 93-228
amended Subsec. (a)(2) to decrease weekly compensation benefits for dependents of deceased employee from 80% to 75%
of deceased's average weekly earnings, to require that state taxes be deducted in calculating such earnings, and to eliminate
cost-of-living adjustments for dependents of deceased employees injured on or after July 1, 1993, effective July 1, 1993;
P.A. 97-205 amended Subsec. (a)(2) to reinstate cost-of-living adjustments to benefits received for injuries occurring on
or after July 1, 1993, and before October 1, 1997; P.A. 98-104 increased the annual cost-of-living adjustment on workers'
compensation benefits paid to those dependent upon a deceased employee who died of on-the-job injuries prior to October
1, 1990, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 01-162 made technical changes in Subsecs. (a) and (b), added new Subsec. (c) re
compensation to dependents of any deceased employee who was injured between January 1, 1952, and December 31,
1973, and compensation to dependents of any deceased employee who was injured before January 1, 1952, and who died
on or before October 1, 1991, and redesignated existing Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (d), making a technical change therein,
effective July 6, 2001; P.A. 05-199 amended Subsecs. (a), (c) and (d) to require claims for payment of retroactive benefits
to be made to Second Injury Fund not more than two years after payment by employer or insurer, effective July 1, 2006.

Status of dependent in fact involves three factual elements: (1) Reliance on contributions of decedent for necessary
living expenses; (2) a reasonable expectation that the contributions will continue; (3) an absence of sufficient means at
hand for meeting these expenses. The first two are fixed at the time of injury and consequently the measure of dependence
in Sec. 31-315 can change from that existing at the time of the injury only if there is a subsequent change in the financial
resources of the claimant. 152 C. 481. Where commissioner found claimant was partial dependent at time of injury but
subsequently received sufficient funds from other sources to supply her present necessities, commissioner correctly concluded that, although claimant was dependent in fact at time of injury, her "measure of dependence" had changed before
the time of the hearing and consequently defendants were relieved from paying compensation to her unless and until she
showed a further change in circumstances. Id., 481, 482. An award to a dependent in fact as well as to a presumptive
dependent is an award of compensation and subject to modification under Sec. 31-315. Id. Question of dependency is one
of fact not subject to review unless ascertained through an illegal standard or based on no evidence. 156 C. 245. Cited.
187 C. 53. Cited. 207 C. 665. Cited. 208 C. 576. Elimination of waiting period not accorded retroactive application. 209
C. 219. Cited. 213 C. 54. Concurrent payment of benefits for death caused by heart disease under this section and benefits
for permanent partial impairment of one's heart under Sec. 31-308(d) is prohibited. 217 C. 50. Cited. 219 C. 28. Cited.
223 C. 336. Cited. 224 C. 382. Cited. 229 C. 587. Cited. 232 C. 311. Employee, in settling claim, has the authority to
compromise the compensation rights of dependents and a clear and unequivocal expression of intent to do so by the
employee will bar a claim under this section. 239 C. 19. Health insurance coverage is not considered "compensation", and
employer is not required to provide health insurance coverage to surviving dependent of deceased employee. 285 C. 778.

Cited. 3 CA 162. Cited. 21 CA 63. Cited. 32 CA 595. Cited. 34 CA 307. Cited. 37 CA 835. Cited. 38 CA 73; Id., 754.
Cited. 43 CA 737. Cited. 44 CA 112. Testimony of even the most persuasive expert witness cannot be credited if it is not
based on facts, and therefore decision of board affirming commissioner's award of benefits to widow reversed because
there were insufficient subordinate facts to support medical witness's opinion that decedent's death was causally related
to the compensable injury or to remove the cause of death from the realm of conjecture. 99 CA 336.

Subsec. (a):

Cited. 206 C. 242. Subdiv. (2)(A) does not require Special Injury Fund to reimburse municipal employer for cost-of-living adjustments paid in connection with a claim for benefits under Heart and Hypertension Act in Sec. 7-433c which
benefits are special compensation and are not workers compensation benefits for purposes of reimbursement and such a
result does not deny employers a protected property interest without due process of law. 269 C. 763.

Subdiv. (2)(A): Formula devised in Gil v. Courthouse One, 239 Conn. 676, for calculating cost of living increases to
total disability benefits also applies to calculation of cost of living increases to survivors' benefits under this Subdiv. from
October 1, 1995, through June 30, 1998. 63 CA 370. Decedent's death, which resulted from an accidental overdose of
medication, is not compensable under this section because there was no evidence to establish that the decedent's depression
and subsequent prescription for the medication which caused the overdose were related to his compensable injuries. 123
CA 18.

History: P.A. 74-251 added reference to children committed to children and youth services commissioner; P.A. 77-614 replaced welfare commissioner with commissioner of human resources, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 91-32 made
technical changes; P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and department of children and families for commissioner and
department of children and youth services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner
and department of social services for commissioner and department of human resources, effective July 1, 1993.

Sec. 31-306b. Written notice of potential eligibility for death benefits. (a) Not
later than thirty days after the date an employer or insurer discontinues paying weekly
disability benefits to an injured employee under the provisions of this chapter due to
the death of the injured employee, the employer or insurer shall send by registered or
certified mail to the last address to which the injured employee's workers' compensation
benefit checks were mailed, a written notice stating, in simple language, that dependents
of the deceased employee may be eligible for death benefits under this chapter, subject
to the filing and benefit eligibility requirements of this chapter.

(b) Not later than October 1, 1998, the chairman of the Workers' Compensation
Commission shall develop a standard form that may be used by employers and insurers
to provide the notice required under subsection (a) of this section.

(c) The failure of an employer or insurer to comply with the notice requirements
of subsection (a) of this section shall not excuse a dependent of a deceased employee
from making a claim for compensation within the time limits prescribed by subsection
(a) of section 31-294c unless the dependent of the deceased employee demonstrates, in
the opinion of the commissioner, that he was prejudiced by such failure to comply. Each
dependent who, in the opinion of the commissioner, demonstrates that he was prejudiced
by the failure of an employer or insurer to comply with the notice requirements of
subsection (a) of this section shall be granted an extension of time in which to file a
notice of claim for compensation with the deceased employee's employer or insurer
pursuant to section 31-294c, but such extension shall not exceed the period of time equal
to the interim between the end of the thirty-day period set forth in subsection (a) of this
section and the date the notice required under said subsection was actually mailed.

Sec. 31-307. Compensation for total incapacity. (a) If any injury for which compensation is provided under the provisions of this chapter results in total incapacity to
work, the injured employee shall be paid a weekly compensation equal to seventy-five
per cent of the injured employee's average weekly earnings as of the date of the injury,
calculated pursuant to section 31-310, after such earnings have been reduced by any
deduction for federal or state taxes, or both, and for the federal Insurance Contributions
Act made from such employee's total wages received during the period of calculation
of the employee's average weekly wage pursuant to section 31-310; but the compensation shall not be more than the maximum weekly benefit rate set forth in section 31-309 for the year in which the injury occurred. No employee entitled to compensation
under this section shall receive less than twenty per cent of the maximum weekly compensation rate, as provided in section 31-309, provided the minimum payment shall not
exceed seventy-five per cent of the employee's average weekly wage, as determined
under section 31-310, and the compensation shall not continue longer than the period
of total incapacity.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, any employee
who suffers any injury or illness caused by the employer's violation of any health or
safety regulation adopted pursuant to chapter 571 or adopted by the federal Occupational
Safety and Health Administration and listed in 29 CFR, Chapter XVII, after the violation
has been cited in accordance with the provisions of section 31-375 or the provisions of
the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 84 Stat. 1601 (1970), 29 USC 658 and
not abated within the time fixed by the citation, provided the citation has not been set
aside by appeal to the appropriate agency or court having jurisdiction, shall receive a
weekly compensation equal to one hundred per cent of the employee's average weekly
earnings at the time of the injury or illness.

(c) The following injuries of any person shall be considered as causing total incapacity and compensation shall be paid accordingly: (1) Total and permanent loss of sight
of both eyes, or the reduction to one-tenth or less of normal vision; (2) the loss of both
feet at or above the ankle; (3) the loss of both hands at or above the wrist; (4) the loss
of one foot at or above the ankle and one hand at or above the wrist; (5) any injury
resulting in permanent and complete paralysis of the legs or arms or of one leg and one
arm; (6) any injury resulting in incurable imbecility or mental illness.

(d) An employee who has suffered the loss or loss of the use of one of the members
of the body, or part of one of the members of the body, or the reduction of vision in one
eye to one-tenth or less of normal vision, shall not receive compensation for the later
injury in excess of the compensation allowed for the injury when considered by itself
and not in conjunction with the previous incapacity except as provided in this chapter.

History: 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; 1967 act increased compensation rate from 60% to 66.66% of
average weekly earnings at time of injury and deleted references to normal vision "with glasses"; P.A. 78-360 authorized
compensation at 75% rate where injury or illness caused by employer's violation of health or safety regulation has been
cited and he has subsequently failed to abate violation; P.A. 80-124 specified that time of injury is date of incapacity to
work as a result of disease in cases involving occupational diseases; P.A. 82-455 changed the minimum weekly benefit
from $20 to 20% of the maximum weekly compensation rate, provided the minimum does not exceed 80% of the employee's
average weekly wage; P.A. 90-272 increased the weekly compensation from 75% of the employee's weekly earnings to
100% for injury or illness caused by his employer's OSHA violations; P.A. 91-32 divided the existing section into Subsecs.
(a) to (d), inclusive, and made technical changes; P.A. 91-339 changed the weekly compensation allowed in Subsec. (a)
from 66.6% of average weekly earnings to 80% of average weekly earnings reduced by deductions for federal taxes and
FICA; P.A. 93-228 amended Subsec. (a) to decrease weekly compensation allowed for total incapacity from 80% to 75%
of injured employee's average weekly earnings, to require that state taxes be deducted in calculating such earnings, and
to decrease maximum compensation allowed for minimum payment from 80% to 75% of employee's average weekly
wage, and added Subsec. (e) to require that compensation for total incapacity be offset by Social Security retirement
benefits, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 06-84 made technical changes in Subsecs. (a), (b) and (d) and deleted former Subsec.
(e) re offset of amount of old age insurance benefits employee entitled to receive under Social Security Act against total
incapacity workers' compensation payments, effective May 30, 2006.

If a one-eyed man lost his eye he was entitled to compensation for total incapacity. 95 C. 354; but see last clause of the
present act. Where plaintiff's labor is unmarketable, may substitute total incapacity. 110 C. 282. Cited. 112 C. 132; Id.,
629. Compensation limited to 520 weeks including specific loss. 113 C. 707. Cited. 123 C. 194; Id., 513. Cited. 125 C.
564. Cited. 126 C. 495. Disability followed by specific indemnity and subsequent disability traceable to original injury,
final disability compensable. 127 C. 294. Whether paid specific or total or partial compensation, discretionary with commissioner. 129 C. 591. Not in conjunction with previous incapacity. 130 C. 401. "Total incapacity to work" means not the
employee's inability to work at his customary calling, but the destruction of his capacity to earn in that or any other
occupation which he can reasonably pursue. If, though he can work, his physical condition is such that no one will employ
him, he is just as much totally incapacitated as though he could not work at all. 135 C. 498. Where plaintiff has equal
earning capacity in other work, but there is no other work because of business conditions, he is not totally incapacitated.
136 C. 514. Does not apply to partial incapacity. 137 C. 235. If, because of employee's injury, his labor becomes unmarketable, he is totally incapacitated. Id., 454. Since 1946 accident was an equal, concurrent and contributing cause of plaintiff's
disability by reason of which compensation was paid in 1950, the award was properly predicated on statutory rate payable
in 1950 rather than lower rate of 1946. 139 C. 338. Cited. 196 C. 104; Id., 529. Cited. 209 C. 59. Rule against double
compensation prohibits concurrent payment of specific indemnity benefits for permanent partial impairment under Sec.
31-308(b) and benefits for total incapacity under this section as result of same incident. 217 C. 42. Cited. Id., 50. Cited.
218 C. 9; Id., 531. Cited. 219 C. 28. Special benefits under Sec. 5-142(a) are not an obstacle to greater recovery under this
section. 220 C. 721. Cited. Id., 739. Cited. 221 C. 41. Cited. 226 C. 569. Cited. 227 C. 261. Cited. 231 C. 287. Injured
employee's workers' compensation benefit rate to be determined in case of traumatic injury by reference to his earnings
preceding the date on which he became incapacitated. Id., 529. Cited. 233 C. 14. Cited. 237 C. 71. Does not permit
discontinuance of total disability benefits to incarcerated recipients. 261 C. 181. Benefits under this section are allowed
for a subsequent disability if distinct from and due to a condition that is not a normal and immediate incident of the loss
for which a claimant received benefits under Sec. 31-308(b). 294 C. 564.

Is constitutional because legislature's goal of cost saving was legitimate and the offset is a rational means to achieve
that goal. 263 C. 328. Applies whenever Social Security and total disability benefits are concurrent and does not violate
equal protection because it does not discriminate against the totally disabled and has a rational basis in legislature's desire
to cut costs. 281 C. 656.

Applies prospectively because it impacts substantive rights. 78 CA 472. Under 1997 revision, defendant is not entitled
to a setoff from widow's benefits awarded under Sec. 31-306. 114 CA 822.

Sec. 31-307a. Cost-of-living adjustment in compensation rates. (a) The weekly
compensation rate of each employee entitled to receive compensation under section 31-307 as a result of an injury sustained on or after October 1, 1969, and before July 1,
1993, which totally disables the employee continuously or intermittently for any period
extending to the following October first or thereafter, shall be adjusted annually as
provided in this subsection as of the following October first, and each subsequent October first, to provide the injured employee with a cost-of-living adjustment in his or her
weekly compensation rate as determined as of the date of the injury under section 31-309. If the maximum weekly compensation rate as determined under the provisions of
section 31-309, to be effective as of any October first following the date of the injury,
is greater than the maximum weekly compensation rate prevailing as of the date of the
injury, the weekly compensation rate which the injured employee was entitled to receive
at the date of the injury or October 1, 1990, whichever is later, shall be increased by the
percentage of the increase in the maximum weekly compensation rate required by the
provisions of section 31-309 from the date of the injury or October 1, 1990, whichever
is later, to such October first. The cost-of-living increases provided under this subsection
shall be paid by the employer without any order or award from the commissioner. The
adjustments shall apply to each payment made in the next succeeding twelve-month
period commencing with the October first next succeeding the date of the injury.

(b) The weekly compensation rate of each employee entitled to receive compensation under section 31-307 as a result of an injury sustained prior to October 1, 1969,
which has disabled the employee for a period extending to October 1, 1969, or thereafter
shall be adjusted as of October 1, 1969, and annually thereafter, as provided in this
subsection to provide the injured employee with a partial cost-of-living adjustment in
his or her weekly compensation rate. The weekly compensation rate paid prior to October
1, 1969, to the injured employee shall be increased as of October 1, 1969, by the amount
that the maximum weekly compensation rate as determined under section 31-309 to be
effective for injuries sustained on or after October 1, 1969, is greater than the maximum
weekly compensation rate as determined under section 31-309 to be effective for injuries
sustained on or after October 1, 1965, or the date of the injury, whichever is later, but
not more than fifteen dollars per week. Thereafter, increases, if any, for cost-of-living
as provided in subsection (a) of this section shall be added to the amount of weekly
compensation payable as of the date of the injury or October 1, 1990, whichever is later.
The partial cost-of-living adjustments provided under this subsection shall be paid by
the employer without any order or award from the commissioner. The adjustments shall
apply to each payment made in the next twelve-month period, on or after October 1,
1969. The cost of the adjustments shall be paid by the employer or the employer's
insurance carrier who shall be reimbursed therefor from the Second Injury Fund as
provided in section 31-354 upon presentation of any vouchers and information that the
Treasurer shall require. No claim for payment of retroactive benefits may be made to
the Second Injury Fund more than two years after the date on which the employer or
its insurance carrier paid such benefits in accordance with this subsection.

(c) On and after October 1, 1997, the weekly compensation rate of each employee
entitled to receive compensation under section 31-307 as a result of an injury sustained
on or after July 1, 1993, which totally incapacitates the employee permanently, shall be
adjusted as provided in this subsection as of October 1, 1997, or the October first following the injury date, whichever is later, and annually on each subsequent October first,
to provide the injured employee with a cost-of-living adjustment in his or her weekly
compensation rate as determined as of the date of injury under section 31-309. If the
maximum weekly compensation rate, as determined under the provisions of said section
31-309, to be effective as of any October first following the date of the injury, is greater
than the maximum weekly compensation rate prevailing as of the date of injury, the
weekly compensation rate which the injured employee was entitled to receive as of the
date of injury shall be increased by the percentage of the increase in the maximum
weekly compensation rate required by the provisions of said section 31-309 from the
date of the injury to such October first. The cost-of-living adjustments provided under
this subdivision shall be paid by the employer without any order or award from the
commissioner. The adjustments shall apply to each payment made in the next succeeding
twelve-month period commencing with October 1, 1997, or the October first next succeeding the date of injury, whichever is later. With respect to any employee receiving
benefits on October 1, 1997, with respect to any such injury occurring on or after July
1, 1993, and before October 1, 1997, or with respect to any employee who was adjudicated to be totally incapacitated permanently subsequent to the date of his or her injury
or is totally incapacitated permanently due to the fact that the employee has been totally
incapacitated by such an injury for a period of five years or more, such benefit shall be
recalculated to October 1, 1997, to the date of such adjudication or to the end of such
five-year period, as the case may be, as if such benefits had been subject to recalculation
annually under the provisions of this subsection. The difference between the amount of
any benefits which would have been paid to such employee if such benefits had been
subject to such recalculation and the actual amount of benefits paid during the period
between such injury and such recalculation shall be paid to the dependent not later than
December 1, 1997, or thirty days after such adjudication or the end of such period, as
the case may be, in a lump-sum payment. The employer or the employer's insurer shall
be reimbursed by the Second Injury Fund, as provided in section 31-354, for adjustments,
including lump-sum payments, payable under this subsection for compensable injuries
occurring on or after July 1, 1993, and before October 1, 1997, upon presentation of
any vouchers and information that the Treasurer shall require. No claim for payment of
retroactive benefits may be made to the Second Injury Fund more than two years after
the date on which the employer or its insurance carrier paid such benefits in accordance
with this subsection.

History: 1969 act rewrote previous provisions in greater detail and required presentation of vouchers etc. as required
by treasurer rather than comptroller; P.A. 91-32 made technical changes; P.A. 91-339 amended Subsec. (a) to provide a
cost of living adjustment based on the percentage of the increase in the maximum weekly compensation rate; P.A. 93-228
amended Subsec. (a) to eliminate cost-of-living adjustments for totally incapacitated employees injured on or after July
1, 1993, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 97-205 added new Subsec. (c) establishing cost-of-living adjustments for compensation
received by totally incapacitated employees on and after October 1, 1997; P.A. 98-104 increased the annual cost-of-living
adjustment on workers' compensation benefits paid to employees totally and permanently disabled by a work-related injury
prior to October 1, 1990, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 05-199 made technical changes and amended Subsecs. (b) and (c)
to require claims for payment of retroactive benefits under subsections to be made to Second Injury Fund not more than
two years after payment by employer or insurer, effective July 1, 2006.

Cited. 239 C. 676.

Cited. 45 CA 324.

Subsec. (c):

P.A. 97-205, which reinstated cost-of-living-adjustments, also provided that fund, rather than employers and insurers,
was responsible for paying such adjustments to qualified employees who sustained compensable injuries on or after July
1, 1993, and before October 1, 1997. 262 C. 416.

Sec. 31-307b. Benefits after relapse from recovery. Recurrent injuries. If any
employee who receives compensation under section 31-307 returns to work after recovery from his or her injury and subsequently suffers total or partial incapacity caused by
a relapse from the recovery from, or a recurrence of, the injury, the employee shall be
paid a weekly compensation equal to seventy-five per cent of his or her average weekly
earnings as of the date of the original injury or at the time of his or her relapse or at the
time of the recurrence of the injury, whichever is the greater sum, calculated pursuant
to section 31-310, after such earnings have been reduced by any deduction for federal
or state taxes, or both, and for the federal Insurance Contributions Act made from such
employee's total wages received during the period of calculation of the employee's
average weekly wage pursuant to said section 31-310, but not more than (1) the maximum compensation rate set pursuant to section 31-309 if the employee suffers total
incapacity, or (2) one hundred per cent, raised to the next even dollar, of the average
weekly earnings of production and related workers in manufacturing in the state, as
determined in accordance with the provisions of section 31-309, if the employee suffers
partial incapacity, for the year in which the employee suffered the relapse or recurrent
injury and the minimum rate under this chapter for that year, and provided (A) the
compensation shall not continue longer than the period of total or partial incapacity
following the relapse or recurrent injury and (B) no employee eligible for compensation
for specific injuries set forth in section 31-308 shall receive compensation under this
section. The employee shall also be entitled to receive the cost-of-living adjustment
provided in accordance with the provisions of section 31-307a commencing on October
first following the relapse or recurrent injury which disables him or her. If the injury
occurred originally prior to October 1, 1969, the difference between the employee's
original weekly compensation rate and the rate required by this section and the cost-of-living adjustment, if any, thereafter due shall be paid initially by the employer or the
employer's insurance carrier who shall be reimbursed for such payment from the Second
Injury Fund as provided by section 31-354 upon presentation of any vouchers and information that the Treasurer shall require. No claim for payment of retroactive benefits
may be made to the Second Injury Fund more than two years after the date on which
the employer or its insurance carrier paid such benefits in accordance with this section.
In no event shall the employee receive more than the prevailing maximum compensation.

History: 1969 act deleted reference to Sec. 31-306(b), deleted reference to "maximum" recovery from injury and set
forth provisions re payments for cost-of-living adjustments; P.A. 79-376 added references to recurrent injuries; P.A. 91-32 made technical changes; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-12 changed the weekly compensation allowed under this section from
66.66% of average weekly earnings to 80% of average weekly earnings reduced by deductions for federal taxes and
FICA, and provided for maximum compensation in the case of total and partial incapacity; P.A. 93-228 decreased weekly
compensation benefits for relapse or recurrence of previous injury from 80% to 75% of employee's average weekly earnings
and required that state taxes be deducted in calculating such earnings, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 05-199 made technical
changes and required claims for payment of retroactive benefits under section to be made to Second Injury Fund not more
than two years after payment by employer or insurer, effective July 1, 2006.

Claimant need only have recovered sufficiently to have returned to work with medical permission to be entitled to the
section's benefits on a relapse or recurrence of injury. 231 C. 529.

Sec. 31-307c. Compensation under agreements or awards effected prior to October 1, 1953. Any person who received compensation for total incapacity under a
workers' compensation agreement or award effected prior to October 1, 1953, shall
receive such compensation as was authorized by such agreement or award under section
31-307 or for not longer than the period of total disability, and shall be paid in addition
thereto the cost-of-living adjustment provided for under subsection (b) of section 31-307a. The compensation authorized under this section, including the cost-of-living adjustment, shall be paid out of the Second Injury Fund provided for in section 31-354.
Such compensation and cost-of-living adjustment shall be paid only for weeks of total
disability existing or commencing on or after October 1, 1969.

Sec. 31-308. Compensation for partial incapacity. (a) If any injury for which
compensation is provided under the provisions of this chapter results in partial incapacity, the injured employee shall be paid a weekly compensation equal to seventy-five per
cent of the difference between the wages currently earned by an employee in a position
comparable to the position held by the injured employee before his injury, after such
wages have been reduced by any deduction for federal or state taxes, or both, and for
the federal Insurance Contributions Act in accordance with section 31-310, and the
amount he is able to earn after the injury, after such amount has been reduced by any
deduction for federal or state taxes, or both, and for the federal Insurance Contributions
Act in accordance with section 31-310, except that when (1) the physician attending an
injured employee certifies that the employee is unable to perform his usual work but is
able to perform other work, (2) the employee is ready and willing to perform other work
in the same locality and (3) no other work is available, the employee shall be paid his
full weekly compensation subject to the provisions of this section. Compensation paid
under this subsection shall not be more than one hundred per cent, raised to the next
even dollar, of the average weekly earnings of production and related workers in manufacturing in the state, as determined in accordance with the provisions of section 31-309, and shall continue during the period of partial incapacity, but no longer than five
hundred twenty weeks. If the employer procures employment for an injured employee
that is suitable to his capacity, the wages offered in such employment shall be taken as
the earning capacity of the injured employee during the period of the employment.

(b) With respect to the following injuries, the compensation, in addition to the usual
compensation for total incapacity but in lieu of all other payments for compensation,
shall be seventy-five per cent of the average weekly earnings of the injured employee,
calculated pursuant to section 31-310, after such earnings have been reduced by any
deduction for federal or state taxes, or both, and for the federal Insurance Contributions
Act made from such employee's total wages received during the period of calculation
of the employee's average weekly wage pursuant to said section 31-310, but in no case
more than one hundred per cent, raised to the next even dollar, of the average weekly
earnings of production and related workers in manufacturing in the state, as determined
in accordance with the provisions of section 31-309, or less than fifty dollars weekly.
All of the following injuries include the loss of the member or organ and the complete
and permanent loss of use of the member or organ referred to:

MEMBER

INJURY

WEEKS OF COMPENSATION

Arm

Master arm

Loss at or above elbow

208

Other arm

Loss at or above elbow

194

Hand

Master hand

Loss at or above wrist

168

Other hand

Loss at or above wrist

155

One leg

Loss at or above knee

155

One foot

Loss at or above ankle

125

Hearing

Both ears

104

One ear

35

One eye

Complete and permanent loss of sight in, or reduction of sight to one-tenth or less of normal vision

157

Thumb*

On master hand

63

On other hand

54

Fingers**

First finger

36

Second finger

29

Third finger

21

Fourth finger

17

Toes***

Great toe

28

Other toes

9

Back

Number of weeks which the proportion of incapacity represents to a maximum of 374 weeks

Heart

520

Brain

520

Carotid artery

520

Pancreas

416

Liver

347

Stomach

260

Loss of bladder

233

Speech

163

Lung

117

Cervical spine

117

Kidney

117

Rib cage

Bilateral

69

Ovary

35

Testis

35

Mammary

35

Nose

Sense and respiratory function

35

Jaw

Mastication

35

Uterus

35−104

Vagina

35−104

Penis

35−104

Coccyx

Actual removal

35

Sense of smell

17

Sense of taste

17

Spleen

In addition to scar

13

Gall bladder

13

Tooth

Minimum

1

Loss of drainage duct of eye (If corrected by prosthesis)

17 for each

Loss of drainage duct of eye (If uncorrected by prosthesis)

33 for each

Pelvis

percentage of back

*The loss or loss of use of one phalanx of a thumb shall be construed as seventy-five
per cent of the loss of the thumb.

**The loss or loss of use of one phalanx of a finger shall be construed as fifty per
cent of the loss of the finger. The loss of or loss of use of two phalanges of a finger shall
be construed as ninety per cent of the loss of the finger.

***The loss or loss of use of one phalanx of a great toe shall be construed as sixty-six and two-thirds per cent of the loss of the great toe. The loss of the greater part
of any phalanx shall be construed as the loss of a phalanx and shall be compensated
accordingly.

If the injury consists of the loss of a substantial part of a member resulting in a permanent partial loss of the use of a member, or if the injury results in a permanent partial
loss of function, the commissioner may, in the commissioner's discretion, in lieu of
other compensation, award to the injured employee the proportion of the sum provided
in this subsection for the total loss of, or the loss of the use of, the member or for
incapacity or both that represents the proportion of total loss or loss of use found to
exist, and any voluntary agreement submitted in which the basis of settlement is such
proportionate payment may, if otherwise conformable to the provisions of this chapter,
be approved by the commissioner in the commissioner's discretion. Notwithstanding
the provisions of this subsection, the complete loss or loss of use of an organ which
results in the death of an employee shall be compensable pursuant only to section 31-306.

(c) In addition to compensation for total or partial incapacity or for a specific loss
of a member or use of the function of a member of the body, the commissioner, not
earlier than one year from the date of the injury and not later than two years from the
date of the injury or the surgery date of the injury, may award compensation equal to
seventy-five per cent of the average weekly earnings of the injured employee, calculated
pursuant to section 31-310, after such earnings have been reduced by any deduction for
federal or state taxes, or both, and for the federal Insurance Contributions Act made from
such employee's total wages received during the period of calculation of the employee's
average weekly wage pursuant to said section 31-310, but not more than one hundred
per cent, raised to the next even dollar, of the average weekly earnings of production
and related workers in manufacturing in the state, as determined in accordance with the
provisions of section 31-309, for up to two hundred eight weeks, for any permanent
significant disfigurement of, or permanent significant scar on, (A) the face, head or
neck, or (B) on any other area of the body which handicaps the employee in obtaining
or continuing to work. The commissioner may not award compensation under this subsection when the disfigurement was caused solely by the loss of or the loss of use of a
member of the body for which compensation is provided under subsection (b) of this
section or for any scar resulting from an inguinal hernia operation or any spinal surgery.
In making any award under this subsection, the commissioner shall consider (1) the
location of the scar or disfigurement, (2) the size of the scar or disfigurement, (3) the
visibility of the scar or disfigurement due to hyperpigmentation or depigmentation,
whether hypertrophic or keloidal, (4) whether the scar or disfigurement causes a tonal or
textural skin change, causes loss of symmetry of the affected area or results in noticeable
bumps or depressions in the affected area, and (5) other relevant factors. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, no compensation shall be awarded for any scar or
disfigurement which is not located on (A) the face, head or neck, or (B) any other area
of the body which handicaps the employee in obtaining or continuing to work. In addition
to the requirements contained in section 31-297, the commissioner shall provide written
notice to the employer prior to any hearing held by the commissioner to consider an
award for any scar or disfigurement under this subsection.

(d) Any award or agreement for compensation made pursuant to this section shall
be paid to the employee, or in the event of the employee's death, whether or not a formal
award has been made prior to the death, to his surviving spouse or, if he has no surviving
spouse, to his dependents in equal shares or, if he has no surviving spouse or dependents,
to his children, in equal shares, regardless of their age.

History: 1959 act replaced $45 maximum weekly benefit with reference to rate established by Sec. 31-309 (i.e. 55%
of average production wage in state for year in which injury occurred raised to next even dollar, to be determined annually),
raised minimum benefit from $15 to $20, added special provisions re loss of master hand and master thumb in Subdivs.
(b) and (h) and allowed compensation for serious and permanent disfigurement of upper arms and legs below the knees;
1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; 1967 act raised compensation rate from 60% to 66.66% of difference
between average weekly earnings before injury and amount person can earn afterward, added exceptions re payment of
full compensation, increased compensation period for loss of master arm from 296 to 312 weeks, for loss of master hand
from 42 to 52 weeks and for loss of master thumb from 87 to 95 weeks, deleted reference to normal vision "with glasses",
added Subdiv. (m) re loss of use of the back, specified commissioners' discretionary powers, replaced reference to disfigurement of specific body parts with reference to disfigurement or scarring of any body part, specifically including scarring
from hernial or spinal surgery and deleted limit of 780 weeks for compensation; P.A. 75-48 specified scarring from "inguinal
hernia"; P.A. 79-376 divided section into Subsecs. and changed alphabetic Subdiv. indicators to numeric ones, used wages
currently earned by employee in comparable position rather than incapacitated person's earnings at time of injury in
calculating benefits, specified "significant" disfigurement or scarring and replaced "workmen's compensation" with "workers' compensation"; P.A. 89-36 raised minimum benefit from $20 to $50; P.A. 89-346 added Subsec. (e) providing for the
payment of benefits in the event of an employee's death; P.A. 91-32 made technical changes; P.A. 91-339 changed the
compensation formula in Subsecs. (a), (b) and (e) from 66.66% of average weekly earnings to 80% of average weekly
earnings reduced by deductions for federal taxes and FICA, limited compensation to 100% of the average weekly production
wage in Subsecs. (a), (b) and (e), provided that awards under Subsec. (e) shall not be made earlier than one year from the
date of the injury, and added considerations to be made by the commissioner, notice requirements and provisions re
discernible scars or disfigurements in Subsec. (e); P.A. 93-228 changed the compensation formula in existing Subsecs.
(a), (b) and (e) from 80% to 75% of average weekly earnings less deductions for state and federal taxes and FICA, reduced
maximum duration of temporary and permanent partial disability benefits provided under Subsecs. (a) and (b), modified
the schedule of injuries listed in Subsec. (b), deleted Subsecs. (c) and (d) authorizing commissioner to make discretionary
awards, relettering former Subsecs. (e) and (f) accordingly, amended relettered Subsec. (c) to prohibit commissioner from
awarding scarring benefits later than two years from the injury or surgery date and for scar located on any area of the body
other than the face, head or neck, unless it handicaps the employee in obtaining or continuing to work, and amended
relettered Subsec. (d) to entitle a deceased employee's dependents to collect compensation due the deceased employee
under an informal or formal agreement or award, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 00-8 amended Subsec. (b) to include injuries
to ovary, uterus and vagina and to make technical changes.

See Sec. 31-349 re compensation for second disability and payment of insurance for totally incapacitated persons.

May recover for total incapacity for a time, plus the specific award for subsequent amputation. 93 C. 19; 96 C. 37. May
recover for total incapacity for a time plus partial incapacity for a further time resulting from the same accident; but not
total and partial for the same period. 93 C. 22. Specific award for the loss of a member bars claim for subsequent period
exceeding the specific term. Id., 28. If the loss of a member results in incapacity of another member, additional compensation
may be allowed. 94 C. 628; so also if incapacity distinct from loss of the member and not a normal incident thereof. 99 C.
550. For incapacity naturally following amputation only the statutory award for loss of the member can be given. 95 C.
300. The specific statutory award does not apply if the injury, because of prior disability, creates total incapacity. Id., 354.
(Aliter by the present statute.) The statutory award for specified injury does not expire with employee's death. 100 C. 421.
Injury caused partial loss of sight in one eye; prior defect in the other eye not to be considered. 104 C. 577. Payments after
his death go to dependents not to administrators. 105 C. 305. Payments accrued during his life go to administrator. Id.,
400. Computation of partial loss of sight discussed. 106 C. 406. Hernia was compensable under the act of 1927 but that is
now changed. 108 C. 309. Cited. 110 C. 284. Cited. 112 C. 132. Where evidence conflicting, amount of disability is question
of fact for commissioner. Id., 432; 113 C. 532; Id., 747; 116 C. 707. Pending award for specific loss of second eye, claimant
is entitled to total incapacity. 112 C. 627. Cited. 113 C. 707. "Inability to work" means inability to do customary work.
119 C. 556. Cited. 120 C. 285. Under former statute, "snap" not equivalent to feeling of pain when related to hernia. 123
C. 43. Loss of eye resulting from infection year after injury not causally connected with original injury. Id., 405. Cited.
Id., 513. Inability to obtain work must exist because of defect which is personal to workman and a direct result of the
injury. 125 C. 140. Specific indemnity starts on date maximum of improvement is reached even though total incapacity
continues. Id., 563. Cited. Id., 564. When several years after total disability and specific indemnity payments for total loss
of vision of one eye were completed eye had to be removed, final disability compensable. 127 C. 294. Cited. 128 C. 578.
Evidence of pain accompanied by injury. Id., 608. Whether pay specific, or total or partial compensation is discretionary
with commissioner. 129 C. 591. Cited. 130 C. 383; Id., 403. Commissioner has discretion to make award for partial
incapacity rather than specific indemnity. Award must be confined to such proportion of sum provided for incapacity as
shall represent proportion of total loss or loss of use found to exist. 137 C. 228. "Average weekly earnings" defined. 145
C. 101. "Amount he is able to earn thereafter" limited to employment in which he was injured or substitute employment.
Id. Award for disfigurement may be made even though claimant is unable to prove disfigurement likely to cause any loss
of earnings or earning capacity. 148 C. 87. Disfigurement, to be serious, must be of such character that it substantially
detracts from appearance of person disfigured. Id. Injury not excludable merely because it is not clinically or objectively
demonstrable. 152 C. 214. Cited. 154 C. 1, 11. Under former section, phrase "legs below the knees", as used in disfigurement
provision of this section, held not to include the feet. Id., 162. History discussed. Id., 164. Cited. 171 C. 577. Cited. 203
C. 34. Cited. 208 C. 576; Id., 709. Cited. 211 C. 166. Award of special benefits not precluded by provisions of Sec. 7-433c. 214 C. 181. Cited. Id., 189. Cited. 218 C. 9; Id., 531. Cited. 221 C. 29. Cited. 223 C. 376. Cited. 226 C. 569. Cited.
227 C. 261. Cited. 231 C. 287; Id., 529. Remedial nature of statute does not relieve plaintiff of burden of establishing all
elements of claim by competent evidence. 294 C. 132.

Cited. 209 C. 59. Cited. 215 C. 206. Rule against double compensation prohibits concurrent payment of specific indemnity benefits for permanent partial impairment under this section and benefits for total incapacity under Sec. 31-307 are
result of same incident. 217 C. 42. GS (1918 Rev.) Sec. 5352 cited. Id. Cited. Id., 50. Cited. 218 C. 19. Cited. 220 C. 721;
Id., 739. Cited. 221 C. 920. Cited. 224 C. 8. Following the amendments in Sec. 19 of P.A. 93-228, Subsec. does not provide
commissioner with discretion to award compensation for loss or permanent partial disability of an unscheduled body part
or organ. 248 C. 793. Subsec. does not violate equal protection clauses of either fourteenth amendment to the United States
Constitution or article first, sec. 20, of state constitution, because it does not involve either a fundamental right or a suspect
class, and because rational justification can be found for constructing a statute such that the loss or permanent partial
disability of many organs and body parts is compensable, but permanent partial disability of the skin is not. Id. Phrase "in
addition to the usual compensation for total incapacity but in lieu of all other payments for compensation" was intended to
prohibit double payment of permanency awards and to address case law precluding claimant suffering incapacity following a
permanent disability from being able to thereafter collect total incapacity benefits. 263 C. 328.

Cited. 26 CA 466; judgment reversed, see 227 C. 261. Cited. 39 CA 28.

Payments under this section are neither in lieu of wages nor based on loss of earnings; therefore are not includable as
income for purpose of determining child support. 42 CS 34, 35.

Cited. 38 CS 648. Benefits under this statute are payable contemporaneously with those under Sec. 31-308(d). 39 CS 449.

Subsec. (e):

P.A. 89-346 cited. 29 CA 432.

Subsec. (m):

A claim for disability, resulting from partial incapacity, under this statute, is not translatable into an initial claim for
liability under section 31-297(b) encompassing a "preclusion of defense" situation. 177 C. 107.

Sec. 31-308a. Additional benefits for partial permanent disability. (a) In addition to the compensation benefits provided by section 31-308 for specific loss of a
member or use of the function of a member of the body, or any personal injury covered
by this chapter, the commissioner, after such payments provided by said section 31-308
have been paid for the period set forth in said section, may award additional compensation benefits for such partial permanent disability equal to seventy-five per cent of the
difference between the wages currently earned by an employee in a position comparable
to the position held by such injured employee prior to his injury, after such wages have
been reduced by any deduction for federal or state taxes, or both, and for the federal
Insurance Contributions Act in accordance with section 31-310, and the weekly amount
which such employee will probably be able to earn thereafter, after such amount has
been reduced by any deduction for federal or state taxes, or both, and for the federal
Insurance Contributions Act in accordance with section 31-310, to be determined by
the commissioner based upon the nature and extent of the injury, the training, education
and experience of the employee, the availability of work for persons with such physical
condition and at the employee's age, but not more than one hundred per cent, raised to
the next even dollar, of the average weekly earnings of production and related workers
in manufacturing in the state, as determined in accordance with the provisions of section
31-309. If evidence of exact loss of earnings is not available, such loss may be computed
from the proportionate loss of physical ability or earning power caused by the injury.
The duration of such additional compensation shall be determined upon a similar basis
by the commissioner, but in no event shall the duration of such additional compensation
exceed the lesser of (1) the duration of the employee's permanent partial disability
benefits, or (2) five hundred twenty weeks. Additional benefits provided under this
section shall be available only to employees who are willing and able to perform work
in this state.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, additional benefits provided under this section shall be available only when the nature of the injury and
its effect on the earning capacity of an employee warrant additional compensation.

History: 1969 act changed amount of additional compensation benefits from the difference between employee's average
weekly benefits and his probable weekly earnings after injury to two-thirds of that difference; P.A. 79-376 used wages
currently earned by employee in comparable position to that of injured employee prior to injury rather than injured employee's average weekly wages as basis of computation; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-12 changed the additional compensation allowed
under this section to 80% of the difference between wages currently earned in a comparable position prior to injury, reduced
by deductions for federal taxes and FICA, and the weekly amount earned after the injury, reduced by deductions for federal
tax and FICA, but not more than 100% of the average production wage; P.A. 93-228 designated existing language as
Subsec. (a) and decreased amount of additional benefits available for permanent partial disability from 80% to 75% of
difference between wages currently earned in a comparable position prior to injury, less deductions for state and federal
taxes and FICA, and weekly amount earned after injury, less such deductions, and to place limitations on availability and
duration of such additional benefits, and added Subsec. (b) to condition availability of additional benefits on nature of
injury and its effect on employee's earning capacity, effective July 1, 1993.

Cited. 223 C. 376. Cited. 231 C. 287. Cited. 237 C. 71. It appears that in calculating benefits, legislature was concerned,
not with a broad all-inclusive definition of "earnings", but intended the formula to reflect the difference between actual
wages claimant had earned from his employer before his injury and wages claimant would be able to earn after his injury.
270 C. 1. Because legislature has explicitly provided for an offset mechanism under either Sec. 5-169(g), which governs
Tier I retirees, or Sec. 5-192p(d), which governs Tier II retirees, benefits awarded under this section need not be offset by
claimant's receipt of state disability retirement benefits. Id., 32. When a prior disability is a substantial cause of the loss
of earning capacity after a second disability, commissioner may consider both disability awards in determining entitlement
to and duration of awards pursuant to this section. 283 C. 257.

Cited. 40 CA 562. Cited. 42 CA 147. Statute does not specifically require claimant to seek employment to qualify for
a discretionary award of benefits. 54 CA 289. Court accepts established policy of board and declines to adopt the "whole
man" theory. Id., 296. Exclusion of regular retirement pension and Social Security benefits from calculation of award of
additional benefits under statute proper and not violative of public policy by allowing double recovery. 82 CA 505.

Expressly restricts commissioner's authority to compensate even those employees who meet criteria in Subsec. (a). 72
CA 611. A specific medical assessment is not necessary under Subsec. to demonstrate reduced earning capacity and, in
present case, there was sufficient evidence to support claim of diminution of earning capacity. 108 CA 370.

Sec. 31-309. Maximum weekly compensation. Determination of average
weekly earnings of state workers and production and related workers in manufacturing. (a) Except as provided in section 31-307, the weekly compensation received by
an injured employee under the provisions of this chapter shall in no case be more than
one hundred per cent, raised to the next even dollar, of the average weekly earnings of
all workers in the state as hereinafter defined for the year in which the injury occurred
except that the weekly compensation received by an injured employee whose injury
occurred before July 1, 1993, shall be computed according to the provisions of law in
effect at the time of his injury. In the case of an occupational disease, the time of injury
shall be the date of total or partial incapacity to work as a result of such disease.

(b) (1) The average weekly earnings of all workers in the state shall be determined
by the Labor Commissioner on or before the fifteenth day of August of each year, to be
effective the following October first, and shall be the average of all workers' weekly
earnings for the year ending the previous June thirtieth and shall be so determined in
accordance with the standards for the determination of average weekly earnings of all
workers established by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

(2) Prior to July 1, 1993, the Labor Commissioner shall determine the average
weekly earnings of all workers in the state to be effective during the period July 1, 1993,
to October 1, 1993.

(c) The average weekly earnings of production and related workers in manufacturing in the state shall be determined by the Labor Commissioner on or before the fifteenth
day of August of each year, to be effective the following October first, and shall be the
average of the manufacturing production and related workers' weekly earnings for the
year ending the previous June thirtieth and shall be so determined in accordance with
the standards for the determination of average weekly earnings of production and related
workers in manufacturing established by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau
of Labor Statistics.

History: 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; 1967 act set maximum at 60% rather than 55% of average
production wage in state for year in which injury occurred; 1969 act substituted "weekly earnings of production and related
workers" for "production wage"; 1971 act raised percentage maximum to 66.66%; P.A. 78-354 raised percentage to 85%
and added exception re employees injured before January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-360 added exception re Sec. 31-307; P.A. 79-483 raised percentage maximum to 100% except for those injured October 1, 1979; P.A. 80-124 specified that in cases of
occupational disease, time of injury is date of total or partial inability to work as a result of disease; P.A. 87-547 increased
maximum percentages to 150%; P.A. 88-2 replaced "1979" with "1987," in provision re applicable injury date; P.A. 91-339 divided existing section into Subsecs. (a) and (b) and changed applicable date from October 1, 1987, to October 1,
1991; P.A. 93-228 amended Subsec. (a) to decrease maximum for persons injured on or after July 1, 1993, from 150% to
100% of state average weekly wage for all workers, inserted new Subsec. (b) to require labor commissioner to annually
calculate average weekly earnings of all state workers as well as production and related workers, and redesignated existing
Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c), effective July 1, 1993, except that Subdiv. (2) of Subsec. (b) effective June 30, 1993.

Sec. 31-310. Determination of average weekly wage of injured worker. Concurrent employment. Payments from Second Injury Fund. Publication of wage
tables. (a) For the purposes of this chapter, the average weekly wage shall be ascertained
by dividing the total wages received by the injured employee from the employer in
whose service the employee is injured during the fifty-two calendar weeks immediately
preceding the week during which the employee was injured, by the number of calendar
weeks during which, or any portion of which, the employee was actually employed by
the employer, but, in making the computation, absence for seven consecutive calendar
days, although not in the same calendar week, shall be considered as absence for a
calendar week. When the employment commenced otherwise than at the beginning of
a calendar week, that calendar week and wages earned during that week shall be excluded
in making the computation. When the period of employment immediately preceding
the injury is computed to be less than a net period of two calendar weeks, the employee's
weekly wage shall be considered to be equivalent to the average weekly wage prevailing
in the same or similar employment in the same locality at the date of the injury except
that, when the employer has agreed to pay a certain hourly wage to the employee, the
hourly wage so agreed upon shall be the hourly wage for the injured employee and the
employee's average weekly wage shall be computed by multiplying the hourly wage
by the regular number of hours that is permitted each week in accordance with the
agreement. For the purpose of determining the amount of compensation to be paid in
the case of a minor under the age of eighteen who has sustained an injury entitling the
employee to compensation for total or partial incapacity for a period of fifty-two or
more weeks, or to specific indemnity for any injury under the provisions of section 31-308, the commissioner may add fifty per cent to the employee's average weekly wage,
except in the case of a minor under the age of sixteen, the commissioner may add one
hundred per cent to the minor's average weekly wage. When the injured employee is a
trainee or apprentice receiving a subsistence allowance from the United States because
of war service, the allowance shall be added to the injured employee's actual earnings
in determining the average weekly wage. Where the injured employee has worked for
more than one employer as of the date of the injury and the average weekly wage received
from the employer in whose employ the injured employee was injured, as determined
under the provisions of this section, are insufficient to obtain the maximum weekly
compensation rate from the employer under section 31-309, prevailing as of the date of
the injury, the injured employee's average weekly wages shall be calculated upon the
basis of wages earned from all such employers in the period of concurrent employment
not in excess of fifty-two weeks prior to the date of the injury, but the employer in whose
employ the injury occurred shall be liable for all medical and hospital costs and a portion
of the compensation rate equal to seventy-five per cent of the average weekly wage paid
by the employer to the injured employee, after such earnings have been reduced by any
deduction for federal or state taxes, or both, and for the federal Insurance Contribution
Act made from such employee's total wages received from such employer during the
period of calculation of such average weekly wage, but not less than an amount equal
to the minimum compensation rate prevailing as of the date of the injury. The remaining
portion of the applicable compensation rate shall be paid from the Second Injury Fund
upon submission to the Treasurer by the employer or the employer's insurer of such
vouchers and information as the Treasurer may require. For purposes of this subsection,
the Second Injury Fund shall not be deemed an employer or an insurer for any claim
brought on behalf of an insolvent insurer and shall be exempt from liability, unless
such claim is brought not later than thirty days after a determination of such insurer's
bankruptcy. No claim for payment of retroactive benefits may be made to the Second
Injury Fund more than two years from the date on which the employer or its insurer
paid such benefits in accordance with this subsection. In cases which involve concurrent
employment and in which there is a claim against a third party, the injured employee
or the employer in whose employ the injury was sustained or the employer's insurer
shall advise the custodian of the Second Injury Fund if there is a third party claim, and
the employee, employer or employer's insurer shall pursue its subrogation rights as
provided for in section 31-293 and shall include in its claim all compensation paid by
the Second Injury Fund and shall reimburse the Second Injury Fund for all payments
made for compensation in the event of a recovery against the third party.

(b) Each August fifteenth, the chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission, in consultation with the advisory board, shall publish tables of the average weekly
wage and seventy-five per cent of the average weekly wage after being reduced by any
deduction for federal or state taxes, or both, and for the federal Insurance Contributions
Act, to be effective the following October first, except that not later than June thirtieth,
the chairman, in consultation with the advisory board, shall publish tables of the average
weekly wage and seventy-five per cent of the average weekly wage after being reduced
by any deduction for federal or state taxes, or both, and for the federal Insurance Contributions Act, to be effective during the period July 1, 1993, to October 1, 1993. Such
tables shall be conclusive for the purpose of determining seventy-five per cent of the
average weekly earnings of an injured employee after such earnings have been reduced
by any deduction for federal or state taxes, or both, and for the federal Insurance Contributions Act made from such employee's total wages received during the period of calculation of the employee's average weekly wage for purposes of sections 31-306, 31-307
and 31-308.

History: 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; 1967 act added provisions re calculation of and liability for
compensation payments when injured employee worked for more than one employer; 1969 act expanded provisions added
in 1967 to specify applicability to cases where wages at time of injury would not enable injured employee to receive
maximum benefits, to change basis of calculation in such cases, to require that injured person receive at least minimum
prevailing rate from employer and dependency allowance if he is totally incapacitated; 1971 act added provisions re third
party claims; P.A. 79-376 substituted "worker" for "workman" and rephrased reference to Sec. 31-308; P.A. 91-32 made
technical changes; P.A. 91-339 designated existing section as Subsec. (a), deleted provisions re dependency allowance,
added provisions re submission of vouchers and information to the treasurer and added Subsec. (b) re average weekly
wage tables; P.A. 93-228 amended Subsec. (a) to change the basis of calculation for an employee's average weekly wage
from 26 to 52 weeks and amended Subsec. (b) to require the chairman of the workers' compensation commission to publish
tables of 75%, rather than 80%, of the average weekly wage less deductions for state and federal taxes and for the federal
Insurance Contributions Act, effective July 1, 1993, except that Subsec. (b) effective June 30, 1993; P.A. 95-277 amended
Subsec. (a) to change portion of wages paid by the employer in whose employ the injury incurred from a "pro-rata" share
to a portion equal to 75% of the "average weekly wage paid by him to the injured employee" after such earnings has been
reduced by the applicable federal and state taxes and the federal Insurance Contribution Act and made technical corrections
for clarity by substituting "insurer" for "insurance carrier", effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 05-199 amended Subsec. (a) to
make technical changes, to provide that Second Injury Fund not be deemed an employer or insurer and be exempt from
liability for claim brought by insolvent insurer unless claim brought not later then 30 days after determination of bankruptcy,
and to require claims for payment of retroactive benefits under subsection to be made to Second Injury Fund not more
than two years after payment by employer or insurer, effective July 1, 2006.

Construed. 95 C. 607. Applies if employee worked two weeks in all within the last twenty-six, though not continuously.
98 C. 820. Basis of compensation is average wage 26 weeks before incapacity occurs, though not in employ of employer
in whose service disease is contracted. 114 C. 24; 116 C. 193. When allowance for board and room is added to weekly
wage. 114 C. 410. Cited. 121 C. 152. Determination of average wage on basis of allowance for truck and hourly rate. 124
C. 433. Average weekly wage. 126 C. 265; 129 C. 591. Prevailing wage in same locality. Id., 234. Working for more than
one employer. 133 C. 215. Cited. 135 C. 500. "Prevailing" wage held to be the wage earned by part-time workers engaged
for one day a week. 136 C. 107. Construed with section 31-308 when employee holds two jobs. 145 C. 101. Industrial
corporation employee who was member of volunteer fire department was not person who worked for more than one
employer within meaning of this section. 159 C. 53. Cited. 203 C. 34. Cited. 220 C. 721. Recovery of either salary benefits
under Sec. 5-142(a) or workers' compensation benefits including right to receive concurrent employment benefits under
this section discussed. Id., 739. Cited. 221 C. 356. Cited. 223 C. 911. Injured volunteer firefighters do not come within
concurrent employment provisions of this section. 224 C. 479. Injured employee's workers' compensation benefit rate to
be determined in case of traumatic injury by reference to his earnings preceding the date on which he became incapacitated.
231 C. 529. Provides method for calculating average weekly wage of individual who was unemployed when disease
manifested itself. 245 C. 66. "Wages" do not include insurance and pension benefits. 247 C. 126.

Cited. 12 CA 138. Cited. 29 CA 559. Cited. 44 CA 112; Id., 397. Formula to establish average weekly wage is clear
and unambiguous, includes employee's part-time employment and does not include earnings from another part-time job
during year prior to injury. 47 CA 628.

Cited. 5 CS 10. When plaintiff on "call" or "daily list", held that each day is an independent contract of employment.
Id., 49. Where part time worker is injured, wages criterion is that of men similarly employed. 16 CS 30. Cited. Id., 164.
Where apprentice employee was totally incapacitated, amount received as war service subsistence allowance was not to
be computed as "amount he is able to earn", thus classifying employee as partially incapacitated under section 31-162.
Id., 481.

Subsec. (b):

Applies only to those employees whose income is subject to deduction for contribution to FICA. 259 C. 783. Because
it would be inefficient and unduly burdensome to require case-by-case calculations of compensation rates, there is a rational
basis for treating employees who contribute to FICA different from employees who do not contribute to FICA, and statute
thus does not violate equal protection clauses of federal and state constitutions. Id.

(b) For the purposes of this section, compensation shall not be prorated because of
other employment by a supernumerary policeman.

(c) For the purpose of determining compensation payable under this chapter for
death, disability or injury incurred by volunteer police officers, the average weekly wage
of such officers shall be the average production wage in the state as determined by the
Labor Commissioner under the provisions of section 31-309.

(1969, P.A. 565, S. 1, 2; P.A. 79-376, S. 46; P.A. 91-32, S. 29, 41.)

History: P.A. 79-376 replaced "workmen's compensation" with "workers' compensation"; P.A. 91-32 made technical
changes and added Subsec. (c), re average weekly wage to be considered for purposes of determining compensation.

Sec. 31-310b. Average weekly wage of General Assembly member. For purposes of workers' compensation the average weekly wage of a member of the General
Assembly shall be construed to be the average weekly earnings of production and related
workers in manufacturing in the state as determined by the Labor Commissioner in
accordance with the provisions of section 31-309. For the purposes of this section, there
shall be no prorating of benefits because of other employment by a member of the
General Assembly.

Sec. 31-310c. Average weekly wage of worker with an occupational disease.
For the purposes of this chapter, in the case of an occupational disease the average
weekly wage shall be calculated as of the date of total or partial incapacity to work.
However, in the case of an occupational disease which manifests itself at a time when
the worker has not worked during the twenty-six weeks immediately preceding the
diagnosis of such disease, the claimant's average weekly wage shall be considered to
be equivalent to the greater of (1) the average weekly wage determined pursuant to
section 31-310 and adjusted pursuant to section 31-307a or (2) the average weekly wage
earned by the claimant during the fifty-two calendar weeks last worked by the claimant,
which wage shall be determined in accordance with said section 31-310 and adjusted
pursuant to said section 31-307a.

Sec. 31-311. Replacement of artificial aids. Each employer subject to the provisions of this chapter shall be liable for the payment of damages accidentally sustained
by an employee in the course of his employment to artificial legs, feet, arms or hands.
Such payments shall consist of the cost of the replacement or repair of such artificial
aid. The employer shall also repair or replace eyeglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids
and artificial teeth, where damage to such eyeglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids and
artificial teeth is accompanied by bodily injury about the face or head.

Sec. 31-312. Compensation for time lost during and expense of medical treatment. Reimbursement of wages lost due to appearance at informal hearing. Payments to prevailing claimants in contested cases. Medical attention outside regular
work hours. (a) An employee receiving medical attention under the provisions of this
chapter and required to be absent from work for medical treatment, examination, laboratory tests, x-rays or other diagnostic procedures, and not otherwise receiving or eligible
to receive weekly compensation, shall be compensated for the time lost from the job
for required medical treatment and tests at the rate of such employee's average earnings,
but not less than at the minimum wage established by law, provided the amount payable
in any one week shall not exceed the employee's weekly compensation rate. Time lost
from the job shall include necessary travel time from the plant to the place of treatment,
the time for the treatment and any other time that is necessary for the treatment, examination or laboratory test. The employer shall furnish or pay for the transportation of the
employee by ambulance or taxi where transportation is medically required from the
point of departure for treatment and return. In all other cases, the employer shall furnish
the employee transportation or reimbursement for the cost of transportation actually
used, at a rate equal to the federal mileage reimbursement rate for use of a privately
owned automobile set forth in 41 CFR Part 301-10.303, as from time to time amended,
for a private motor vehicle or the cost incurred for public transportation, from the employee's point of departure, whether from the employee's home or place of employment,
and return, if the employee is required to travel beyond a one-fare limit on an available
common carrier from the point of departure to the place of treatment, examination or
laboratory test. Where the medical attention or treatment is provided at a time other
than during the employee's regular working hours and the employee is not otherwise
receiving or eligible to receive weekly compensation, the employee shall be compensated for the time involved for the medical treatment as though it were time lost from
the job at the rate of the employee's average hourly earnings and shall be paid for the
cost of necessary transportation as provided in this subsection.

(b) When a claimant is given notice to appear at a conference or an informal hearing
before a commissioner and does appear, he shall be entitled to reimbursement of wages
lost by reason of the appearance if he is not then receiving compensation for the appearance as provided in this subsection. When liability or extent of disability is contested
by formal hearing before the commissioner, the claimant shall be entitled, if he prevails
on final judgment, to payment for services rendered him by a competent physician or
surgeon for examination, x-ray, medical tests and testimony in connection with the
claim, the commissioner to determine the reasonableness of the charges, and he shall
be entitled to receive payment of one-fifth of the weekly compensation, as computed
in accordance with section 31-310, for each day, or part thereof, that he is in attendance
at the formal hearing if he is not then receiving compensation.

(c) No employer shall require any person receiving medical attention under the
provisions of this chapter to receive such medical attention outside the person's regular
work hours if such work hours overlap or coincide with the office hours of the treating
physician.

History: 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; 1969 act expanded and clarified employer's responsibility to
furnish or pay for transportation, replacing previous provision which simply stated that costs for travel "outside the one
fare limit from the plant to the place of treatment and return shall be borne by the employer and shall not be included in
the maximum limit set forth above"; 1971 act added Subsec. (b) prohibiting employer from requiring treatment to occur
outside injured employee's regular work hours; P.A. 79-376 replaced "workmen's compensation" with "workers' compensation"; P.A. 80-10 increased transportation allowance from $0.10 to $0.15 per mile; P.A. 91-32 made technical changes,
added new Subsec. (b) re claimant's right to reimbursement for certain expenses and redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as
Subsec. (c); P.A. 01-33 amended Subsec. (a) by changing the mileage reimbursement rate from $0.15 per mile to a rate
equal to the federal mileage reimbursement rate for use of a privately owned automobile and made technical changes for
purposes of gender neutrality.

Sec. 31-313. Transfer to suitable work during period of treatment or rehabilitation or because of physical incapacity. Civil penalty for failure of employer to
comply. (a)(1) Where an employee has suffered a compensable injury which disables
him from performing his customary or most recent work, his employer at the time of
such injury shall transfer him to full-time work suitable to his physical condition where
such work is available, during the time that the employee is subjected to medical treatment or rehabilitation or both and until such treatment is discontinued on the advice of
the physician conducting the same or of the therapist in charge of the rehabilitation
program or until the employee has reached the maximum level of rehabilitation for such
worker in the judgment of the commissioner under all of the circumstances, whichever
period is the longest. (2) The commissioner shall conduct a hearing upon the request of
an employee who claims his employer has not transferred him to such available suitable
work. Whenever the commissioner finds that the employee is so disabled, and that the
employer has failed to transfer the employee to such available suitable work, he shall
order the employer to transfer the employee to such work.

(b) The commissioner shall conduct a hearing upon the request of an employee
claiming to be unable to perform his customary or most recent work because of physical
incapacity resulting from an injury or disease. Whenever the commissioner finds that
the employee has such a physical incapacity, he shall order that the injured worker be
removed from work detrimental to his health or which cannot be performed by a person
so disabled and be assigned to other suitable full-time work in the employer's establishment, if available; provided the exercise of this authority shall not conflict with any
provision of a collective bargaining agreement between such employer and a labor organization which is the collective bargaining representative of the unit of which the injured
worker is a part.

(c) Whenever the commissioner finds that an employer has failed to comply with
the transfer requirements of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section, or has failed
to comply with any transfer order issued by him pursuant to this section, he may assess
a civil penalty of not more than five hundred dollars against the employer. Any appeal
of a penalty assessed pursuant to this subsection shall be taken in accordance with the
provisions of section 31-301. Any penalties collected under the provisions of this subsection shall be paid over to the Second Injury Fund or its successor.

History: 1961 act replaced previous provisions entirely; 1967 act increased weekly payments for rehabilitation treatments from $15 to $40 and added Subsec. (b) re reassignment of employees to different work positions; P.A. 79-376
specified that employee be transferred or reassigned to "full-time" suitable work in Subsecs. (a) and (b) and substituted
"worker" and "workers' compensation" for "workman" and "workmen's compensation"; P.A. 83-65 amended Subsec. (a)
to remove the provisions for compensation of $40 per week for rehabilitation treatments and to remove the requirement
that the commissioners establish rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this section and compile a list of
available in-state rehabilitation facilities; P.A. 86-166 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to specifically provide that the commissioner shall conduct a hearing to determine if a job transfer or assignment is necessary, and to issue an order for the employer
to do so and added Subsec. (c), establishing a civil penalty for employers who fail to comply with the transfer requirements;
P.A. 91-207 made a technical change to fund's name in Subsec. (c).

Sec. 31-314. Allowance for advance payments. In fixing the amount of any compensation under this chapter, due allowance shall be made for any sum which the employer has paid to any injured employee or to his dependents on account of the injury,
except such sums as the employer has expended or directed to be expended for medical,
surgical or hospital service.

(1949 Rev., S. 7433; 1958 Rev., S. 31-165; 1961, P.A. 491, S. 37.)

History: 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions.

Payment to employee not deductible from amount due to dependent for his subsequent death. 93 C. 159. "Payments
made on account of" means those payments paid on credit, or in advance of, any sums that subsequently become payable
by employer. 270 C. 1.

Sec. 31-315. Modification of award or voluntary agreement. Any award of, or
voluntary agreement concerning, compensation made under the provisions of this chapter or any transfer of liability for a claim to the Second Injury Fund under the provisions
of section 31-349 shall be subject to modification in accordance with the procedure for
original determinations, upon the request of either party or, in the case of a transfer
under section 31-349, upon request of the custodian of the Second Injury Fund, whenever
it appears to the compensation commissioner, after notice and hearing thereon, that the
incapacity of an injured employee has increased, decreased or ceased, or that the measure
of dependence on account of which the compensation is paid has changed, or that
changed conditions of fact have arisen which necessitate a change of such agreement,
award or transfer in order properly to carry out the spirit of this chapter. The commissioner shall also have the same power to open and modify an award as any court of the
state has to open and modify a judgment of such court. The compensation commissioner
shall retain jurisdiction over claims for compensation, awards and voluntary agreements,
for any proper action thereon, during the whole compensation period applicable to the
injury in question.

History: 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; P.A. 95-277 amended the section to include any transfer of
liability for a claim to the Second Injury Fund and allowed for its modification upon request of the custodian of the fund,
effective July 1, 1995.

Power of commissioner to modify award. 94 C. 625; 95 C. 298; 97 C. 83; Id., 335. Modification because disability has
ceased may be retroactive to the date when it ceased. 108 C. 36. No bar that the controlling facts were known to claimant
and might have been presented in the former hearing. 95 C. 356; 97 C. 76, 84. Aliter in case of long continued negligence
of moving party. 100 C. 185. Power to open corresponds to that of a court during the term. 98 C. 741. But this is only as
to the change of facts named in the first sentence of section. 100 C. 185; 103 C. 704. Employer may claim revision as well
as employee. 97 C. 332. Death of employee after award does not entitle employer to retry the question of liability. 103 C.
705; 105 C. 419. Commissioner may open award because he misunderstood the facts. 106 C. 92. Can open only on the
motion of some person entitled to claim revision. 101 C. 113. Procedure on petition to open award. 94 C. 626; 106 C. 5.
Having opened the award, commissioner may try it de novo. 97 C. 84. May determine who shall receive payments after
employee's death. 100 C. 419. Powers of commissioner under this section. 129 C. 591. No right of appeal from denial of
motion to reopen and rehear unless commissioner exceeds limits of legal discretion. 112 C. 333. As to power to reopen.
109 C. 601; 128 C. 1; Id., 284; Id., 574. Motion to reopen should follow terminology of statute. 113 C. 747; 126 C. 522.
Reopening rests largely within discretion of commissioner. 119 C. 170; id., 522. No power to reopen to correct mistake
of law. 116 C. 1. When it is error in refusing to reopen. 112 C. 333; 113 C. 282. If question of law involved, decision
subject to appeal. 113 C. 262. Voluntary agreement may be modified if fraud shown. 121 C. 149. Cited. 110 C. 285. Cited.
111 C. 403. Cited. 113 C. 172. Cited. 114 C. 395. Cited. 116 C. 229. Cited. 120 C. 284. Cited. 126 C. 494. Cited. 127 C.
297. Cited. 130 C. 665. Cited. 132 C. 172. Power of commissioner to open an award. 134 C. 269. Commissioner was
justified in treating plaintiff's motion as one for a new trial rather than for a modification of award. 136 C. 340. Denial of
a motion to reopen an award is proper subject of a separate appeal. Motion to reopen on ground of mistake denied. 136 C.
361. Cited. 137 C. 187; Id., 487. Status of dependent in fact involves three factual elements: (1) Reliance on contributions
of decedent for necessary living expenses; (2) a reasonable expectation that the contributions will continue; (3) an absence
of sufficient means at hand for meeting these expenses. The first two are fixed at the time of injury and consequently the
measure of dependence in this section can change from that existing at the time of the injury only if there is a subsequent
change in the financial resources of the claimant. 152 C. 481. Where commissioner found claimant was partial dependent at
time of injury but subsequently received sufficient funds from other sources to supply her present necessities, commissioner
correctly concluded that, although claimant was dependent in fact at the time of injury, her "measure of dependence" had
changed before the time of the hearing and consequently defendants were relieved from paying compensation to her unless
and until she showed a further change in circumstances. Id., 481, 482. An award to a dependent in fact as well as to a
presumptive dependent is an award of compensation and subject to modification. Id. Trial court was in error in admitting
testimony of draftsman of agreement made under section 31-296 which was clear and unambiguous on its face as only
workmen's compensation commissioner could open and modify the award. 157 C. 538. Cited. 159 C. 302. Cited. 177 C.
107. Cited. 206 C. 242. Cited. 210 C. 423. Cited. 212 C. 441. Cited. 219 C. 28. Cited. 221 C. 905. Cited. 226 C. 569. Cited.
231 C. 469. Authority to modify otherwise final awards does not authorize modifications based on changes of law. 244
C. 1. A motion to open or modify was not required under this section because commissioner and parties considered
application for total incapacity benefits to be the equivalent of such a motion, commissioner applied the applicable standard,
there was no showing of prejudice to defendants, and it would violate public policy to deny benefits because of a failure
to frame application for total incapacity benefits as a motion to open or modify. 294 C. 564. Commissioner did not have
authority to void agreement pursuant to this section; discovery that police department was not organized under Sec. 7-274
was not a changed condition of fact but mistake of law not within scope of this section. 296 C. 352.

Cited. 26 CA 194. Cited. 28 CA 536. Cited. 37 CA 648. Cited. 45 CA 324. Commissioner lacked authority to modify
award because statute does not authorize modifications based on a new interpretation of law and therefore, lacked authority
to recalculate the plaintiff's benefits. 55 CA 789. Workers' compensation commissioner did not have authority to grant
Second Injury Fund equitable relief under section to open approved stipulation and schedule approval hearing because
there was no evidence that fund was prevented from making a defense by fraud, accident, mistake, surprise or improper
management of opposite party. 66 CA 332. Under this section, commissioner has same power as a court to open and modify
an award. 75 CA 591.

Sec. 31-316. Employer to record and report employees' injuries and report
insurance coverage or welfare plan payments provided to employees. Increased
award due to employer's failure to file. (a) Each employer shall keep a record of the
injuries sustained by his employees in the course of their employment that result in
incapacity for one day or more. Each employer shall send to the chairman of the Workers'
Compensation Commission, in duplicate, each week, or more often if so directed, a
report of all injuries that the rules prescribed by the chairman determine, including the
time of each injury, together with notices of claims for compensation that have been
served upon the employer under section 31-294c, within one week of the receipt of the
notices of claims. The employer shall inform the chairman as to the extent to which he
provides accident and health insurance and life insurance coverage for his employees,
and his payment or contribution requirements for any employee welfare plan, as defined
in section 31-284b. No other report of injuries to employees shall be required by any
department or office of the state from employers. The duplicates of the reports shall be
immediately transmitted to the Labor Commissioner.

(b) Upon determining that the employer or the employer's representative failed to
report injuries as required by subsection (a) of this section, the workers' compensation
commissioner may increase the award for compensation for the employee's injuries
proportionate to the prejudice that the employee sustained due to the employer's failure
to file.

History: 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; P.A. 82-398 required the employer to inform the commissioner
as to the insurance coverage and welfare fund payments he provides for his employees and required that injury reports
include "time of each injury"; P.A. 85-32 provided that the reports concerning injuries, insurance coverage and employee
welfare fund payments shall be sent by each employer to the chairman of the board of compensation commissioners; P.A.
91-32 made technical changes; P.A. 91-339 changed "board of compensation commissioners" to "workers' compensation
commission" and changed "employee welfare fund" to "employee welfare plan"; P.A. 96-267 added Subsec. (b) to allow
the commissioner to increase an employee's award proportionate to prejudice caused by an employer's failure to report
injuries as required; P.A. 08-3 amended Subsec. (b) by adding "or the employer's representative".

See Sec. 31-40 re required reporting of serious accidents in establishments or work places.

Sec. 31-318. Action for minor or mentally incompetent person. When any employee affected by the provisions of this chapter or any person entitled to compensation
thereunder is a minor or mentally incompetent, his parent or duly appointed guardian
may, on his behalf, perform any act or duty required or exercise any right conferred by
the provisions of this chapter with the same effect as if such person were legally capable
to act on his own behalf and had so acted. The commissioner may, for just cause shown,
authorize or direct the payment of compensation directly to a minor or to some person
nominated by the minor and approved by the commissioner, which person shall act on
behalf of such minor.

Sec. 31-320. Exemption and preference of compensation. All sums due for compensation under the provisions of this chapter shall be exempt from attachment and
execution and shall be nonassignable before and after award. The rights of compensation
granted by this chapter, reckoned at their present value, shall have the same preference
against the assets of an insolvent employer as may be allowed by law to a claim for the
unpaid wages of workers earned within three months.

See Sec. 33-896 et seq. re judicial dissolution of a stock corporation and appointment of receiver or custodian.

See Sec. 45a-392 re order of payment of claims.

See Sec. 52-512 re wages as preferred claim.

Cited. 224 C. 8.

Defendant's workmen's compensation award could be garnished by welfare commissioner in action for reimbursement
of funds expended for care and maintenance of defendant's family. Purpose of this exemption statute is to provide support
money to claimant and his dependents. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 69.

Sec. 31-321. Manner of serving notices. Unless otherwise specifically provided,
or unless the circumstances of the case or the rules of the commission direct otherwise,
any notice required under this chapter to be served upon an employer, employee or
commissioner shall be by written or printed notice, service personally or by registered
or certified mail addressed to the person upon whom it is to be served at the person's
last-known residence or place of business. Notices on behalf of a minor shall be given
by or to such minor's parent or guardian or, if there is no parent or guardian, then by or
to such minor.

Cited. 226 C. 508. Strict compliance with statutory methods of service under section is necessary to constitute meaningful
notice under Sec. 31-301(a). 263 C. 279. Commission's failure to comply strictly with statutorily prescribed methods of
notice and service under section will not trigger party's obligation to file appeal under Sec. 31-301(a). Id.

Cited. 3 CA 162. Cited. 29 CA 441. Cited. 30 CA 295. Cited. 45 CA 199. Does not expressly provide for notice to
claimants who are not employees or dependents. Notice to last-known address of decedent employee, which was also
claimants' address, was adequate. 63 CA 1. Section governs the manner in which notice is to be served when required
under Workers' Compensation Act, but does not independently require workers' compensation insurance providers to
provide notice in any particular circumstance. 121 CA 144.

Sec. 31-323. Attachments to secure payment of compensation. When any person presents in writing to the commissioner a claim for compensation, either for injury
sustained by himself arising out of and in the course of his employment or for injury
resulting in the death of some person of whom he is an alleged dependent, he may
ask that a writ of attachment issue to secure the payment of the claim or claims for
compensation as may arise out of the injury. Unless it appears from the records of the
commissioner that there has been a compliance with the provisions of section 31-284,
which compliance is then effective, or that the Insurance Commissioner has approved
a substitute system of compensation, benefit and insurance, the commissioner may issue
a writ of attachment in the manner and form of writs of attachment in civil actions and
shall be vested with the same jurisdiction as authorities authorized to issue writs of
attachment in civil actions. If a writ is issued under this section and thereafter it appears
to the satisfaction of the commissioner that there has been a compliance with the provisions of section 31-284, which compliance was then effective and applicable to the
injury in question, or that the Insurance Commissioner has approved a substitute system
of compensation, benefit and insurance, the commissioner may vacate the writ of attachment on the payment by the employer of the expense actually incurred under such writ
of attachment. The commissioners are vested with the authority of the various courts
to dissolve attachments made under this section and, on the dissolution of an attachment,
may require the substitution of a bond in the same manner as any court upon the dissolution of attachments in civil actions.

Sec. 31-324. Reservation of cases for the Appellate Court. When, in any case
arising under the provisions of this chapter, the Compensation Review Board is of the
opinion that the decision involves principles of law which are not free from reasonable
doubt and which public interest requires shall be determined by the Appellate Court, in
order that a definite rule be established applicable to future cases, said Compensation
Review Board may, on its own motion and without any agreement or act of the parties
or their counsel, reserve such case for the opinion of the Appellate Court. Upon a reservation so made, no costs shall be taxed in favor of either party, and no entry fee, record
fee, judgment fee or other clerk's fee in either court shall be taxed. Upon the filing of
such a reservation, the question shall come before the Appellate Court as though an
appeal had been taken, and said court shall thereupon reserve the case for the opinion
of the Supreme Court in the manner herein indicated; but if, in the opinion of the Appellate Court, the principles of law involved in the decision are in fact free from reasonable
doubt and the public interest does not in fact require that they be determined by the
Supreme Court, the Appellate Court may, in its discretion, hear and determine the controversy as in other cases.

Cited. 94 C. 262. Cited. 95 C. 609. Effect of a pro forma award and function of an appeal. 116 C. 219. In absence of
judgment there can be no appeal to supreme court. 123 C. 102. Reservation can be made without any appeal or judgment
when facts are not in dispute. 138 C. 620. Cited. 150 C. 154. Cited 159 C. 53. Reservation from the court of common pleas
and not the superior court is the proper procedure to follow. Reservation from superior court dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. 168 C. 84. Cited. 213 C. 54. Cited. 232 C. 758.

Sec. 31-326. Proceedings against delinquent insurance companies or employers. Whenever the chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission finds that
any insurance company or association insuring the liability of an employer under the
provisions of this chapter is conducting such business improperly or is dilatory in investigating and adjusting claims or making payments, or fails to comply with the provisions
of this chapter or the rules, methods or procedure and forms adopted by the chairman,
the chairman shall notify the Insurance Commissioner, in writing, setting forth the facts,
and thereupon the Insurance Commissioner shall fix a time and place for a hearing
thereon, giving reasonable notice to the chairman and to such company or association
of such hearing, and, if he finds the allegations to be true, he shall either suspend for a
time or revoke the license of such company or association to transact such business
in this state. Whenever a compensation commissioner has reason to believe that any
employer who has furnished proof of his financial ability or filed with the Insurance
Commissioner security for the performance of the obligations of this chapter in accordance with section 31-284 is dilatory in investigating or adjusting claims or in making
payments, or fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter or the rules, methods
of procedure and forms adopted by the chairman, he may notify the Insurance Commissioner, in writing, setting forth the facts, and thereupon the Insurance Commissioner
shall fix the time and place for a hearing thereon, giving reasonable notice to the commissioner and to such employer, and, if he finds the allegations to be true, then, after ten
days from the notice of such findings to such employer, the compliance of such employer
with the terms of section 31-284 shall be, as to any future injuries, null and void.

History: 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; P.A. 77-614 made insurance department a division within the
department of business regulation with insurance commissioner as its head, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-482 reinstated
insurance division as an independent department with commissioner as its head and deleted reference to abolished department of business regulation; P.A. 91-339 changed "compensation commissioners, or a majority of them" to "chairman of
the workers' compensation commission".

Sec. 31-327. Award of fees and expenses. (a) Whenever any fees or expenses are,
under the provisions of this chapter, to be paid by the employer or insurer and not by
the employee, the commissioner may make an award directly in favor of the person
entitled to the fees or expenses, which award shall be filed in court, shall be subject to
appeal and shall be enforceable by execution as in other cases. The award may be combined with an award for compensation in favor of or against the injured employee or
the dependent or dependents of a deceased employee or may be the subject of an award
covering only the fees and expenses.

(b) All fees of attorneys, physicians, podiatrists or other persons for services under
this chapter shall be subject to the approval of the commissioner.

PART C
EMPLOYERS' MUTUAL INSURANCE

Sec. 31-328. Mutual associations authorized. With the approval of the Insurance
Commissioner, employers who are subject to this chapter and are bound to pay compensation to their employees thereunder may associate themselves, in accordance with the
law for the formation of corporations without capital stock, for the purpose of establishing and maintaining mutual associations to insure their liabilities under this chapter; but
no such association shall be formed to include employers not in the same or similar
trade or business or in trades or businesses with substantially similar degrees of hazard
of injury to employees.

History: 1959 act replaced reference to Part B of chapter with reference to entire chapter; 1961 act entirely replaced
previous provisions; P.A. 77-614 placed insurance commissioner within department of business regulation and made
insurance department a division of that department, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-482 restored insurance division as
independent department with commissioner as its head and deleted reference to abolished business regulation department.

Sec. 31-329. Approval by Insurance Commissioner. Before giving his approval,
the Insurance Commissioner may require the incorporators of any such association to
include in their proposed certificate of incorporation such lawful provisions for the
regulation of the affairs of the association and the definition of its powers and the powers
of its officers, directors and incorporators as shall satisfy him that it is well designed and
wisely adapted to its proposed purposes. When such a certificate, in form and substance
acceptable to the Insurance Commissioner, has been approved by and filed with the
Secretary of the State, the incorporators shall forthwith cause copies thereof to be filed in
the offices of the Insurance Commissioner and each of the compensation commissioners.

Sec. 31-330. Membership. Membership in such associations shall be limited to
employers as defined in this chapter, and each association shall have power, by appropriate bylaws, to provide for the admission, suspension, withdrawal or expulsion of
members.

Sec. 31-331. Control of associations. Insurance Commissioner authorized to
accept statement of financial condition by certain employers' mutual associations
organized before June 6, 1996. Except as herein otherwise provided, such associations
shall be subject to the same regulation and control as is or may be imposed by law upon
other corporations or associations taking similar risks in this state, and over them the
Insurance Commissioner shall have all the jurisdiction given him by sections 38a-14
and 38a-17 over insurance companies, provided with respect to any such association
organized prior to June 6, 1996, with a membership composed exclusively of health
care providers and whose premium base is derived entirely from health care organizations, the commissioner may accept a statement of financial condition that shall be
audited by an independent certified public accountant using generally accepted accounting principles if such statement also includes a conversion to the accounting standards
prescribed by section 38a-70. Such statement of financial condition shall be submitted
to the commissioner by such association, annually, on or before the first day of March,
signed and sworn to by its president or vice president and secretary or an assistant
secretary, of its financial condition on the thirty-first day of December next preceding,
prepared in such form and detail as may be prescribed by the commissioner and shall
include a certification by an actuary or reserve specialist of all reserve liabilities prepared
in accordance with subsection (e) of section 38a-53. In addition to such annual statement
of financial condition, any such association shall file, quarterly, unaudited financial
statements using generally accepted accounting principles if such statements also include a conversion to the accounting standards prescribed by section 38a-70.

History: 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; P.A. 77-614 placed insurance commissioner within the department of business regulation and made insurance department a division within that department, effective January 1, 1979;
P.A. 80-482 restored insurance division as independent department with commissioner as its head and deleted reference
to abolished business regulation department; P.A. 07-27 allowed commissioner to accept statement of financial condition
from certain employers' mutual associations organized before June 6, 1996, audited by independent certified public accountant using generally accepted accounting principles in such form and detail as prescribed by commissioner, and provided
for quarterly filing of unaudited financial statements by such associations.

Sec. 31-332. Policies. Number of members required. No policies shall be issued
by any such association until members in such numbers and with such numbers of
employees as the Insurance Commissioner may decide will give a fair diffusion of risks
have obligated themselves to take policies immediately upon their authorization, nor
shall any policies be issued except such as the Insurance Commissioner has approved
as conforming in all respects to the requirements of this chapter. In conformance with
the provisions of section 31-284, policies may be issued covering claims only in excess
of a certain amount. If, at any time, by the retirement of members, reduction of numbers
of employees or other cause, the membership of any association appears to the Insurance
Commissioner no longer to afford a fair diffusion of risks, he may suspend or forbid
the further issue of policies until the former conditions of the association have been
restored.

Sec. 31-333. Officers and voting. The affairs of all associations incorporated under this chapter shall be managed by such officers and directors as may be chosen in
manner prescribed by the bylaws of the association; but each member shall be entitled
to cast at least one ballot in all elections and votes, any member having had for six
months an average of more than one hundred and not more than five hundred employees
to whom he is bound to pay compensation under this chapter shall be entitled to cast
two ballots, and each additional five hundred employees shall entitle such member to
an additional ballot, but no member shall be entitled to cast more than eight ballots.

Sec. 31-334. Safety rules. Each association shall have power to prescribe and enforce reasonable rules for safety regulations on the premises of its members, and for
that purpose its inspectors shall have free access to all such premises during regular
working hours.

Sec. 31-335. Premium rates. Reserve notes. Each association shall have power
to determine the comparative premium rates for each occupation or risk insured by it
and to prescribe rates of cash premiums sufficient to cover the current cost. Such premium rates shall prevail for the fiscal year of the association, but they may be changed
annually by the directors. The current cost herein specified shall be such an amount as
is estimated to cover the expenses and the claims or portions of claims payable within
the same fiscal year within which they originated. Members of each association shall
be required to pay yearly in advance cash premiums for current costs, and in addition
thereto an amount in negotiable notes sufficient to maintain a reserve equal to that
required by statute of stock or commercial casualty companies for similar classes of
risks. These notes shall be payable on the call of the treasurer of the association as they
may be required to meet estimated losses or expenses in excess of the current cost or
to meet claims covering losses not payable within the same fiscal year within which the
claim originated. The directors may, in their discretion, fix rates of interest on either
notes or balances.

Sec. 31-336. Assessments. If an association is not possessed of funds sufficient
for the payment of incurred losses and expenses, it shall make an assessment for the
amount needed to pay such losses and expenses upon the members liable to assessment
therefor, in proportion to their several liabilities.

Sec. 31-337. Investments. The funds of each association shall be invested by the
directors in the same classes of securities and in the same manner in which funds of
domestic life insurance companies are by law required or permitted to be invested.

Sec. 31-338. Bylaws and regulations. Each association shall have power to determine the premiums, contingent liabilities, assessments, penalties and dividends of its
members, and to enforce or administer the same without the limitations imposed upon
corporations without capital stock by section 33-1057. It shall also have power to make
and amend bylaws or regulations for the prompt, economical and safe conduct of its
affairs. All bylaws and regulations of each association shall be filed with the Insurance
Commissioner and shall be subject to his approval. If not disapproved by him, they shall
go into effect thirty days after filing or at such later date as may be indicated in the
bylaws or regulations.

Sec. 31-339. Appeals to Superior Court. From any decision or order of the Insurance Commissioner affecting any association, such association shall have the right of
appeal to the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford.

History: 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; P.A. 77-614 placed insurance commissioner within department
of business regulation and made insurance department a division within that department, effective January 1, 1979; P.A.
78-280 replaced "Hartford county" with "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain"; P.A. 80-482 restored insurance division
as independent department with commissioner as its head and deleted reference to abolished business regulation department;
P.A. 88-230 replaced "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain" with "judicial district of Hartford", effective September
1, 1991; P.A. 90-98 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993;
P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995.

PART D
WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE

Sec. 31-340. Insurer directly liable to employee or dependent. Whenever any
employer of labor as defined in this chapter insures his liability under this chapter with
any company authorized to transact a compensation insurance business in this state, the
contract of insurance between such employer of labor and such insurer shall be a contract
for the benefit of any employee who sustains an injury arising out of and in the course
of his employment by such insured by reason of the business operations described in
the policy, while conducted at any working place therein described or elsewhere in
connection therewith, or, in the event of such injury resulting in death, for the benefit
of the dependents of such employee. Every such policy shall contain an agreement by
the insurer to the effect that the insurer shall be directly and primarily liable to the
employee and, in the event of his death, to his dependents or to any person entitled to
burial expenses under section 31-306, to pay to him or to them the compensation, if any,
for which the employer is liable; but payment in whole or in part of such compensation by
either the employer or the insurer shall to the extent thereof be a bar to the recovery
against the other of the amount so paid.

Sec. 31-341. Notice to insurer. When a claim for compensation by any such injured employee or the dependent of an injured employee of an employer who has insured
his liability as aforesaid does not result in a voluntary agreement and a hearing before
a compensation commissioner is necessary to determine such claim, the insurer shall
receive the same notice of such hearing as is by law required to be given to the employer
and shall thereupon be a party to the proceeding.

Sec. 31-342. Award; enforcement. In any such hearing, the commissioner having
jurisdiction may make his award directly against such employer, insurer or both, except
that, when there is doubt as to the respective liability of two or more insurers, he shall
make his award directly against such insurers; and such awards shall be enforceable
against the insurer in all respects as provided by law for enforcing awards against an
employer, and the proceedings on hearing, finding, award, appeal and execution shall
be in all respects similar to that provided by law as between employer and employee.

(1949 Rev., S. 7482; 1958 Rev., S. 31-209; 1961, P.A. 491, S. 68.)

History: 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions.

The award should ordinarily be against both employer and insurer. 105 C. 741. Where one company insured until and
another after August 1st, and employee was injured May 25th but disability began September 19th, first company is solely
liable. Id., 740. Cited. 113 C. 130; Id., 520. Cited. 114 C. 27. In occupational disease cases, award should be made against
all insurers within whose periods of coverage claimant's work was a substantial factor in the disability. 116 C. 216. Award
against principal employer even though direct employer has paid all compensation claims. 124 C. 227.

Sec. 31-343. Certain defenses not available against employee or dependent.
As between any such injured employee or his dependent and the insurer, every such
contract of insurance shall be conclusively presumed to cover the entire liability of the
insured, and no question as to breach of warranty, coverage or misrepresentation by
the insured shall be raised by the insurer in any proceeding before the compensation
commissioner or on appeal therefrom.

Sec. 31-344. When representations avoid policy. No statement in an application
for a policy of compensation insurance shall vitiate such policy as between the insurer
and the insured, unless such statement is false and materially affects either the acceptance
of the risk or the hazard assumed by the insurer.

Sec. 31-344a. Workers' Compensation Administration Fund established.
There is established a fund to be known as the "Workers' Compensation Administration
Fund". The fund may contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the fund
and shall be held by the Treasurer separate and apart from all other moneys, funds and
accounts. The interest derived from the investment of the fund shall be credited to the
fund. Amounts in the fund may be expended only pursuant to appropriation by the
General Assembly. Any balance remaining in the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall
be carried forward in the fund for the fiscal year next succeeding.

Sec. 31-345. Insurance Commissioner to approve form of policy. Assessments
against employers for administrative costs. Surpluses. (a) No insurer or employer
to whom a certificate of solvency pursuant to subsection (b) of section 31-284 has been
issued, shall issue any policy of insurance purporting to cover the liability of an employer
under the provisions of this chapter until a copy of the form of such policy has been
filed with and approved by the Insurance Commissioner. No insurer or employer who
is self-insured in whole or in part shall engage in writing insurance under this chapter
or providing the compensation and benefits directly to employees unless he files with
the Insurance Commissioner a receipt from the State Treasurer or the Comptroller on
or before the first day of October, that the employer has paid his pro rata cost of administration required by this section or if the self-insured employer has not, prior to July first
of any year, provided compensation and benefits under this chapter, the self-insured
employer shall file such receipt on or before October first, annually that he has paid an
amount equal to one-quarter of one per cent of the self-insured employer's payroll for
the twelve months immediately preceding such July first.

(b) (1) When, after the close of a fiscal year ending prior to July 1, 1990, the chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission and the Comptroller have determined
the total amount of expenses of the Workers' Compensation Commission in accordance
with the provisions of subsection (d) of section 31-280, the Treasurer shall thereupon
assess upon and collect from each employer, other than the state and any municipality
participating for purposes of its liability under this chapter as a member in an interlocal
risk management agency pursuant to chapter 113a, the proportion of such expenses that
the total compensation and payment for hospital, medical and nursing care made by
such self-insured employer or private insurance carrier acting on behalf of any such
employer bore to the total compensation and payments for hospital, medical and nursing
care made by all such insurance carriers and self-insurers. The amount so secured shall
be used to reimburse the Treasurer for appropriations theretofore made by the state for
the payment in the first instance of the expenses of administering this chapter. On and
after July 1, 1986, the Treasurer shall, as soon as possible after the close of a fiscal year
ending prior to July 1, 1990, estimate the pro rata cost to each employer based upon the
costs assessed to such employer in the immediately preceding fiscal year and shall assess
upon and collect from each such employer such estimated costs annually which shall
be payable as provided in subsection (a) of this section except each annual assessment
shall include an amount which represents the difference between the payments collected
and the actual costs assessed to such employer for the immediately preceding fiscal
year. The Treasurer is authorized to make credits or rebates for overpayments made
under this subsection by any employer for any fiscal year.

(2) The chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission shall annually, on
or after July first of each fiscal year, determine an amount sufficient in the chairman's
judgment to meet the expenses of the Workers' Compensation Commission. Such expenses shall include the costs of the Division of Workers' Rehabilitation and the programs established by its director, the costs of the Division of Worker Education and
the programs established by its director and funding for the occupational health clinic
program created pursuant to sections 31-396 to 31-402, inclusive. The Treasurer shall
thereupon assess upon and collect from each employer, other than the state and any
municipality participating for purposes of its liability under this chapter as a member
in an interlocal risk management agency pursuant to chapter 113a, the proportion of
such expenses, based on the immediately preceding fiscal year, that the total compensation and payment for hospital, medical and nursing care made by such self-insured
employer or private insurance carrier acting on behalf of any such employer bore to the
total compensation and payments for the immediately preceding fiscal year for hospital,
medical and nursing care made by such insurance carriers and self-insurers. For the
fiscal years ending June 30, 2000, and June 30, 2001, such assessments shall not exceed
five per cent of such total compensation and payments made by such insurance carriers
and self-insurers. For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2002, and June 30, 2003, such
assessments shall not exceed four and one-half per cent of such total compensation and
payments made by such insurance carriers and self-insurers. For any fiscal year ending
on or after June 30, 2004, such assessment shall not exceed four per cent of such total
compensation and payments made by such insurance carriers and self-insurers. Such
assessments and expenses shall not exceed the budget estimates submitted in accordance
with subsection (c) of section 31-280. For each fiscal year, such assessment shall be
reduced pro rata by the amount of any surplus from the assessments of prior fiscal years.
Said surplus shall be determined in accordance with subdivision (3) of this subsection.
Such assessments shall be made in one annual assessment upon receipt of the chairman's
expense determination by the Treasurer. All assessments shall be paid not later than
sixty days following the date of the assessment by the Treasurer. Any employer who
fails to pay such assessment to the Treasurer within the time prescribed by this subdivision shall pay interest to the Treasurer on the assessment at the rate of eight per cent
per annum from the date the assessment is due until the date of payment. All assessments
received by the Treasurer pursuant to this subdivision shall be deposited in the Workers'
Compensation Administration Fund established under section 31-344a. The Treasurer
is hereby authorized to make credits or rebates for overpayments made under this subsection by any employer for any fiscal year.

(3) As soon as practicable after the close of the state fiscal year, the Comptroller
shall examine the Workers' Compensation Administration Fund and shall direct the
State Treasurer to set aside within said fund amounts in excess of fifty per cent of the
expenditures of the Workers' Compensation Commission for the most recently completed fiscal year, which shall be considered a surplus for purposes of subdivision (2)
of subsection (b) of this section.

History: 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; 1969 act made previous provisions applicable to employers
who have been issued a certificate of solvency, added provisions requiring payment of pro rata share of administration
costs and other specified payments before insurer or self-insured employer writes insurance and added Subsec. (b) re
assessment of administration expenses; 1971 act deleted requirement that insurer pay $1,000 if it has not, prior to July first
in any year, paid out any compensation or benefits before it writes insurance, in Subsec. (a); P.A. 73-32 required that filing
of receipt proving payment of pro rata share of administration costs be made on or before October first rather than September
first in Subsec. (a); P.A. 76-246 added provisions re quarterly installments of estimated pro rata costs and credits and
rebates of overpayments; P.A. 77-614 placed insurance commissioner within the department of business regulation and
made insurance department a division within that department, effective January 1, 1979 (provisions later repealed by P.A.
80-482); P.A. 78-241 made payments of estimated costs payable on annual rather than quarterly basis; P.A. 81-469 amended
Subsec. (b) to provide that the amount of compensation and payments made by a carrier due to the state's liabilities as an
employer shall be exempted when calculating the amount due under the subsection; P.A. 85-189 provided that each employer, other than the state and certain municipalities, is liable for the assessments used to cover administrative costs; P.A.
90-311 added Subsec. (b)(2) re assessment of expenses on or after July 1, 1990; P.A. 91-191 amended Subsec. (b)(2) to
replace quarterly assessment with a single annual assessment; P.A. 91-339 amended Subsec. (b) to include the costs of the
rehabilitation division and the division of worker education in the expenses of the workers' compensation commission
and to limit assessments to 4% of the total compensation and payments; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-14 amended Subsec. (b)(2)
to provide that on and after July 1, 1991, all assessments received by treasurer pursuant to said subdivision shall be deposited
in workers' compensation administration fund; P.A. 92-31 amended Subsec. (b)(2) to require employers who fail to pay
assessments within the prescribed time to pay interest at the rate of 8% and to delete provision authorizing pro rata reduction
of assessments in accordance with prior years' surplus; P.A. 96-267 amended Subdiv. (b)(2) to require a pro rata assessment
reduction equal to any prior fiscal year surplus, and added Subdiv. (3) to calculate such surplus and to direct the State
Treasurer to set aside the surplus; P.A. 99-214 amended Subsec. (b)(2) by increasing, for fiscal years 2000 and 2001, the
employer assessment cap from 4% to 5% of employers' workers' compensation expenses for the prior year, reducing the
cap to 4% for fiscal years commencing on or after 2002, and requiring the chairman to include the cost of funding occupational health clinic programs in determining the amount necessary to meet the Workers' Compensation Commission's
annual expenses, effective July 1, 1999; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9 amended Subsec. (b)(2) to add provision re 4.5% maximum
annual employer assessment for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2002, and June 30, 2003, and to provide for a 4% maximum
annual employer assessment for fiscal years ending on or after June 30, 2004, effective July 1, 2001.

Sec. 31-347. Experience in compensation insurance. Each insurer which writes
liability or compensation policies shall include in the annual statement required by law
a schedule of its experience thereunder in such form as the Insurance Commissioner
may prescribe.

History: 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; P.A. 77-614 placed insurance commissioner within department
of business regulation and made insurance department a division within that department, effective January 1, 1979; P.A.
80-482 restored insurance division as independent department with commissioner as its head and abolished business
regulation department.

Sec. 31-348. Compensation insurance companies to report their risks. Every
insurance company writing compensation insurance or its duly appointed agent shall
report in writing or by other means to the chairman of the Workers' Compensation
Commission, in accordance with rules prescribed by the chairman, the name of the
person or corporation insured, including the state, the day on which the policy becomes
effective and the date of its expiration, which report shall be made within fifteen days
from the date of the policy. The cancellation of any policy so written and reported shall
not become effective until fifteen days after notice of such cancellation has been filed
with the chairman. Any insurance company violating any provision of this section shall
be fined not less than one hundred nor more than one thousand dollars for each offense.

History: 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; P.A. 81-469 required any insurance company insuring the
state's liability under this chapter to report such fact as it would for any other policyholder; P.A. 90-116 allowed for reports
from agents of companies and for reports other than in writing; P.A. 91-339 changed "board of commissioners" to "chairman
of the workers' compensation commission" and "one week" to "fifteen days".

See 113 C. 128, 504; 127 C. 706.

Insurer's initial letter to insured indicating that failure to pay premiums due would result in policy cancellation was not
sufficiently unequivocal to constitute notice of cancellation under this section. 62 CA 440. Section not applicable to
nonrenewals of policies. 67 CA 361.

Sec. 31-348a. Compensation insurers to reduce premiums. (a) On or before
July 1, 1993, each insurer writing workers' compensation insurance in this state, either
individually or through a rating organization licensed pursuant to section 38a-672 of
which the insurer is a member or subscriber, shall file new voluntary pure premium and
assigned risk rates effective for the period July 1, 1993, to June 30, 1994, containing a
nineteen per cent benefit level reduction and allowing due consideration for changes in
loss costs based upon experience updated through the end of 1992.

(b) Upon receipt of any rate filing made under this section by a rating organization
licensed pursuant to section 38a-672, the Insurance Commissioner shall conduct a public
hearing regarding the filing and consult with an independent actuary engaged for the
purpose of certifying the accuracy of the benefit level reduction set forth in subsection
(a) of this section and determining whether the filed rates are excessive, inadequate or
unfairly discriminatory as determined by the provisions of section 38a-665. The rates
approved for the period July 1, 1993, to June 30, 1994, shall reflect (i) the actual loss
costs experience through the end of 1992 and (ii) the savings from benefit level reductions effective July 1, 1993, as achieved by this section and sections 31-40u, 31-40v,
31-275, 31-276, 31-279, 31-280, 31-284a, 31-288, 31-289b, 31-293, 31-294c, 31-295,
31-297a, 31-298, 31-299a, 31-300, 31-303, 31-306, 31-307 to 31-307b, inclusive, 31-308, 31-308a, 31-309, 31-310, 31-310c, 31-349, 31-349a and 31-354.

(c) Within thirty days of the Insurance Commissioner's final decision regarding a
filing by a rating organization made pursuant to this section, each insurer writing workers' compensation insurance in this state shall file revised rates for the voluntary market
in accordance with the provisions of section 38a-676. Such revised rates shall be applicable to all new and renewal workers' compensation insurance policies effective on or
after July 1, 1993. For any policy in effect as of June 30, 1993, during the period from
July 1, 1993, through the end of the policy period, the premium shall be reduced by a
percentage which equals the benefit level reduction certified pursuant to subsection (b)
of this section. With respect to new and renewal policies effective on or after July 1,
1993, and before the final approval of the rates filed pursuant to this subsection, each
workers' compensation insurance carrier shall, not later than forty-five days after the
rates approved pursuant to this section become final, adjust the premium of such new
or renewal policy for the period after July 1, 1993, to reflect the difference between the
premium on the policy as issued and the premium which reflects the rates as finally
approved, which rates shall reflect the specific savings achieved by this section and
sections 31-40u, 31-40v, 31-275, 31-276, 31-279, 31-280, 31-284a, 31-288, 31-289b,
31-293, 31-294c, 31-295, 31-297a, 31-298, 31-299a, 31-300, 31-303, 31-306, 31-307
to 31-307b, inclusive, 31-308, 31-308a, 31-309, 31-310, 31-310c, 31-349, 31-349a and
31-354.

Sec. 31-349. Compensation for second disability. Payment of insurance coverage. Second Injury Fund closed July 1, 1995, to new claims. Procedure. (a) The
fact that an employee has suffered a previous disability, shall not preclude him from
compensation for a second injury, nor preclude compensation for death resulting from
the second injury. If an employee having a previous disability incurs a second disability
from a second injury resulting in a permanent disability caused by both the previous
disability and the second injury which is materially and substantially greater than the
disability that would have resulted from the second injury alone, he shall receive compensation for (1) the entire amount of disability, including total disability, less any
compensation payable or paid with respect to the previous disability, and (2) necessary
medical care, as provided in this chapter, notwithstanding the fact that part of the disability was due to a previous disability. For purposes of this subsection, "compensation
payable or paid with respect to the previous disability" includes compensation payable
or paid pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, as well as any other compensation
payable or paid in connection with the previous disability, regardless of the source of
such compensation.

(b) As a condition precedent to the liability of the Second Injury Fund, the employer
or its insurer shall: (1) Notify the custodian of the fund by certified mail no later than
three calendar years after the date of injury or no later than ninety days after completion
of payments for the first one hundred and four weeks of disability, whichever is earlier,
of its intent to transfer liability for the claim to the Second Injury Fund; (2) include with
the notification (A) copies of all medical reports, (B) an accounting of all benefits paid,
(C) copies of all findings, awards and approved voluntary agreements, (D) the employer's or insurer's estimate of the reserve amount to ultimate value for the claim, (E) a
two-thousand-dollar notification fee payable to the custodian to cover the fund's costs
in evaluating the claim proposed to be transferred and (F) such other material as the
custodian may require. The employer by whom the employee is employed at the time
of the second injury, or its insurer, shall in the first instance pay all awards of compensation and all medical expenses provided by this chapter for the first one hundred four
weeks of disability. Failure on the part of the employer or an insurer to comply does
not relieve the employer or insurer of its obligation to continue furnishing compensation
under the provisions of this chapter. The custodian of the fund shall, by certified mail,
notify a self-insured employer or an insurer, as applicable, of the rejection of the claim
within ninety days after receiving the completed notification. Any claim which is not
rejected pursuant to this section shall be deemed accepted, unless the custodian notifies
the self-insured employer or the insurer within the ninety-day period that up to an additional ninety days is necessary to determine if the claim for transfer will be accepted. If
the claim is accepted for transfer, the custodian shall file with the workers' compensation
commissioner for the district in which the claim was filed, a form indicating that the
claim has been transferred to the Second Injury Fund and the date that such claim was
transferred and shall refund fifteen hundred dollars of the notification fee to the self-insured employer or the insurer, as applicable. A copy of the form shall be mailed to
the self-insured employer or the insurer and to the claimant. No further action by the
commissioner shall be required to transfer said claim. If the custodian rejects the claim
of the employer or its insurer, the question shall be submitted by certified mail within
thirty days of the receipt of the notice of rejection by the employer or its insurer to the
commissioner having jurisdiction, and the employer or insurer shall continue furnishing
compensation until the outcome is finally decided. Claims not submitted to the commissioner within said time period shall be deemed withdrawn with prejudice. If the employer
or insurer prevails, or if the custodian accepts the claim all payments made beyond the
one-hundred-four-week period shall be reimbursed to the employer or insurer by the
Second Injury Fund.

(c) If the second injury of an employee results in the death of the employee, and it
is determined that the death would not have occurred except for a preexisting permanent
physical impairment, the employer or its insurer shall, in the first instance, pay the
funeral expense described in this chapter, and shall pay death benefits as may be due
for the first one hundred four weeks. The employer or its insurer may thereafter transfer
liability for the death benefits to the Second Injury Fund in accordance with the procedures set forth in subsection (b) of this section.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, no injury which occurs on or
after July 1, 1995, shall serve as a basis for transfer of a claim to the Second Injury Fund
under this section. All such claims shall remain the responsibility of the employer or
its insurer under the provisions of this section.

(e) All claims for transfer of injuries for which the fund has been notified prior to
July 1, 1995, shall be deemed withdrawn with prejudice, unless the employer or its
insurer notifies the custodian of the fund by certified mail prior to October 1, 1995, of
its intention to pursue transfer pursuant to the provisions of this section. No notification
fee shall be required for notices submitted pursuant to this subsection. This subsection
shall not apply to notices submitted prior to July 1, 1995, in response to the custodian's
request, issued on March 15, 1995, for voluntary resubmission of notices.

(f) No claim, where the custodian of the Second Injury Fund was served with a valid
notice of intent to transfer under this section, shall be eligible for transfer to the Second
Injury Fund unless all requirements for transfer, including payment of the one hundred
and four weeks of benefits by the employer or its insurer, have been completed prior to
July 1, 1999. All claims, pursuant to this section, not eligible for transfer to the fund on
or before July 1, 1999, will remain the responsibility of the employer or its insurer.

History: 1959 act simplified provisions by deleting references to specific loss of or damage to body organs, allowed
compensation for injuries which result in permanent partial incapacity greater than would have resulted if person did not
have preexisting incapacity, specified amount of additional compensation as "the same amount as the weekly compensation
paid by his employer", changed minimum payment for total incapacity from $15 to $20 and maximum payment from $45
to maximum rate in Sec. 31-309 and replaced 780-week payment limit with unspecified "period of incapacity"; 1961 act
entirely replaced previous provisions and was entirely replaced by provisions of 1967 act; 1969 act deleted requirement
that insurer or employer furnish custodian with a copy of the agreement or award and deleted provision which stated that
fund was to be used to pay for injuries covered by Sec. 31-310; 1971 act clarified employer's responsibilities to notify
custodian of agreement and award; P.A. 79-376 substituted executions of acknowledgment of physical defect for executions
of waiver and reduced compensation by amount of "any compensation benefits payable or paid with respect to the previous
disability"; P.A. 81-464 permitted the use of the second injury fund for payment of insurance coverage for totally incapacitated recipients of workers' compensation after 104 weeks of benefits and provided for notification of fund custodian; P.A.
82-398 replaced the reference to Sec. 31-51h with a reference to Sec. 31-284b, as Sec. 31-51h was repealed by the act and
deleted obsolete provision requiring employer to notify custodian of second injury fund within 60 days after October 1,
1981, that coverage is required for persons who have received payments for more than 104 weeks as of that date; P.A. 82-472 made a technical correction; P.A. 86-31 divided section into Subsecs. and clarified the notice requirements for payment
by the second injury fund of insurance coverage costs for totally incapacitated workers' compensation recipients; P.A. 88-40 amended Subsec. (b) to provide that the cost of insurance for totally incapacitated individuals shall be paid to the
employer as reimbursement and the employer shall furnish all medical information in support of the claim as to liability
of the second injury fund as requested; P.A. 88-47 added Subsec. (c) re payment of the cost of accident and health insurance
coverage by the second injury fund for certain employees receiving workers' compensation payments who are affected
by a plant move or shutdown; P.A. 89-66 specified that the provisions of Subsec. (c) apply to employers who shut down
or relocate on or after January 1, 1985, specified that the fund's liability is effective as of the date it receives notice and
provided that the fund shall be liable for the cost of equivalent insurance; P.A. 90-116 amended Subsec. (c) to provide that
notice shall be by certified mail; P.A. 90-327 added Subsec. (d) concerning insurance coverage for employees injured on
or after January 1, 1980, but before January 1, 1982; P.A. 91-32 made technical changes and divided existing Subsec. (a)
into Subsecs. (a) to (d), inclusive, relettering former Subsecs. (b) to (d), inclusive, accordingly; P.A. 91-339 amended
Subsec. (f)(2) to provide that the fund's liability shall begin 15 days after notice to the custodian and by adding provisions
re determination of ineligibility for costs of coverage; P.A. 93-228 amended Subsec. (a) to define "compensation payable
or paid with respect to the previous disability" for purposes of the subsection, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-429 amended
Subsecs. (b) and (c) to modify the notice and filing requirements imposed on employers or their insurance carriers in order
to transfer liability for an injury or death to the second injury fund, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-277 amended Subsec.
(b) to replace previous provisions re transfer of claims to the Second Injury Fund, to substitute references to "insurer" for
"insurance carrier", to detail notification procedure for the rejection of a claim and to specify that improper submittal of
claims within specific time period could result in a prejudice of claim, amended Subsec. (c) to replace previous provisions
re transfer of liability for death benefits with new provisions, deleted Subsecs. (d) to (g), inclusive, added a new Subsec.
(d) to close the Second Injury Fund for injuries occurring on or after July 1, 1995, and new Subsec. (e) requiring an employer
or insurer to notify the custodian of the fund prior to October 1, 1995, of its intention to pursue a transfer of claim to the
Second Injury Fund, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-242 added Subsec. (f) concerning the eligibility of claims for transfer
to the Second Injury Fund, effective June 6, 1996.

"Compensation benefits" refers only to compensation under the act. 223 C. 336. P.A. 79-376 cited. Id. P.A. 91-32, Sec.
35 cited. Id. For purposes of calculating one-hundred-four-week period in which notice must be given, "disability" refers
to claimant's degree of medical impairment, rather than inability to work or loss of earning capacity. 243 C. 513.

Cited. 38 CA 175. Employer's insurer was excused from complying with statutory notice requirements for transfer of
liability to Second Injury Fund where evidence showed that employer was defunct and that insurer was unable to obtain
wage information necessary for strict compliance with statute. 52 CA 819. Employer and insurance company did not give
timely notice of their intent to transfer liability to the fund because period of plaintiff's disability began on the day he was
injured rather than on the day he sought medical care for the injuries or the day he underwent surgeries for the injuries. 67
CA 385. Appeal dismissed as moot-notice filed was timely but not proper. 69 CA 385. A person can be disabled for
purposes of section even though such person can carry on all aspects of the employment. 73 CA 523.

Subsec. (d):

With passage of this section legislature rebutted any presumption in favor of prospective only application of Sec. 31-349c. Id. P.A. 95-277 Sec. 3(d) cited. Id. Apportionment is not an available form of relief for second injury employer or
its insurer under subsection. 263 C. 279.

Subsec. (e):

Re-notification clause in this subsec. does not violate contract or due process clauses of U.S. Constitution, because no
showing under circumstances of this case that legislature, in establishing second injury fund, entered into a contract with
employees, employers and insurers. 248 C. 457.

Renotice letter was timely where town sent it by certified mail on September 28, 1995 and fund received it on October
2, 1995. 67 CA 276.

Sec. 31-349a. Powers of investigators in the office of the State Treasurer. Any
investigator in the investigations unit of the office of the State Treasurer, when investigating Second Injury Fund claims which may violate the requirements of this chapter
and when investigating compliance by employers with the provisions of section 31-284,
shall have the powers, as described in section 54-1f, of a peace officer as defined in
subdivision (9) of section 53a-3.

History: P.A. 91-207 made a technical change in fund's name; P.A. 91-339 added provisions re investigation of compliance with Sec. 31-284; P.A. 93-228 transferred jurisdiction over second injury fund investigators from the state treasurer's
office to the workers' compensation commission and expanded the powers and duties of the investigators to include
investigation of all claims, not just second injury fund claims, which violate the provisions of this chapter, effective July
1, 1993; P.A. 95-277 transferred jurisdiction over Second Injury Fund investigations from the Workers' Compensation
Commission to the office of the State Treasurer, effective June 29, 1995; P.A. 96-216 deleted "at the direction of the
commissioner" when referring to the powers of peace officers, effective June 4, 1996.

Sec. 31-349b. Certificate for permanent vocational disability. Employer reimbursed by Second Injury Fund for insurance premiums for certified employees.
(a) Any employee who has suffered a compensable injury under the provisions of this
chapter, and who is receiving benefits for such injury from the Second Injury Fund
pursuant to the provisions of section 31-349, may file a written request with the commissioner in the district where the original claim was filed for a hearing to determine whether
the employee's injury constitutes a permanent vocational disability. The hearing shall
be held within sixty days of the date the request was filed. Upon the request of the
commissioner and prior to the conclusion of such hearing, the director of the Division
of Workers' Rehabilitation within the Workers' Compensation Commission shall, after
receiving such information on the case which the commissioner deems necessary, submit
written recommendations concerning the case to the commissioner for his consideration.
The commissioner shall issue his decision, in writing, within ten days after the conclusion of the hearing. If the commissioner determines that the employee's injury is a
permanent vocational disability, the employee shall be issued a certificate of disability
by the commissioner. Such certificate shall be effective for a stated period of time of
from one to five years, as determined by the commissioner. The decision of the commissioner may be appealed in accordance with the provisions of section 31-301.

(b) (1) Whenever any individual who has been issued a certificate of disability,
pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, is thereafter employed, the
employer, upon written application and presentation of sufficient proof to the State
Treasurer, shall be reimbursed from the Second Injury Fund for any workers' compensation insurance premiums paid by the employer which are attributable to such individual's
employment during the effective period of such certificate. (2) Whenever any such
certified individual is hired by an employer to whom a certificate of self-insurance has
been issued pursuant to section 31-284, the employer, upon written application and
presentation of sufficient proof to the State Treasurer, shall be reimbursed from the
Second Injury Fund at the rate of two per cent of the gross wages paid to the individual
for work performed during the effective period of his certificate. No employer may
make more than one such application related to a certified employee within a twelve-month period.

(c) Upon the expiration of any certificate of disability or of an extension of such
certificate, the person to whom such certificate was issued may file a written request
with the commissioner for an extension of the effective period of such certificate. The
determination as to whether such an extension should be granted shall be made by
the commissioner in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section,
provided such extension shall be effective for a stated period of time of from one to five
years.

Sec. 31-349c. Controverted issues of previous disability. Physician panel established. (a) The custodian of the Second Injury Fund and an insurer or self-insured
employer seeking to transfer a claim to the fund shall submit all controverted issues
regarding the existence of a previous disability under section 31-349 to the chairman
of the Workers' Compensation Commission. The chairman shall appoint a panel of three
physicians, as defined in subdivision (17) of section 31-275, and submit such dispute
to the panel, along with whatever evidence and materials he deems necessary for consideration in the matter. The panel may examine the claimant, who shall submit to any
examination such panel may require. Within sixty days of receiving the submission, the
panel shall file its opinion, in writing, with the chairman, who shall forward it, along
with any records generated by the panel's work on the case, to the commissioner having
jurisdiction over the claim in which the dispute arose. The panel's opinion shall be
determined by a majority vote of the three members. Such opinion shall be binding on
all parties to the claim and may not be appealed to the Compensation Review Board
pursuant to section 31-301.

(b) The chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to establish a fee schedule for
payment of medical panel members. Any fees paid pursuant to the provisions of this
section shall be paid by the self-insured employer or insurer seeking fund reimbursement.

Sec. 31-349e. Advisory board for the Second Injury Fund. There shall be an
advisory board for the Second Injury Fund to advise the custodian of the Second Injury
Fund on matters concerning administration, operation, claim handling and finances of
the fund. On or before July 1, 1995, the Treasurer shall appoint six of the eight members
to the board. Three members shall represent employers and insurers who pay assessments to the fund pursuant to section 31-354. Three such members shall represent employees receiving benefits paid or reimbursed by the fund. The two remaining members
shall be the chairpersons of the labor and public employees committee of the General
Assembly or their designees. The six members appointed by the Treasurer shall be
appointed for a term of four years from January first in the year of their appointment.
Any vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of the term in the same manner as the
original appointment. All members shall serve without compensation. The board shall
elect a chairperson from among its members. The Treasurer shall provide such staff as
is necessary for the performance of the functions and duties of the board. The board
shall meet at least twice a year. All actions of the board shall require an affirmative vote
of a majority of those members present and voting, provided at least four members
shall be present and voting. The board may adopt any rules of procedure that it deems
necessary to carry out its duties.

(P.A. 95-277, S. 6, 19; P.A. 98-104, S. 5, 6; P.A. 01-31.)

History: P.A. 95-277 effective July 29, 1995; P.A. 98-104 authorized members' designees to vote, effective July 1,
1998; P.A. 01-31 changed voting requirement for board action from six members or their designees to a majority of those
members present and voting, provided at least four members are present and voting, and made technical changes for
purposes of gender neutrality.

Sec. 31-349f. Condition of the Second Injury Fund. Report to the Governor
and General Assembly. On or before July 1, 1996, and annually thereafter, the Treasurer shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a report on the financial
condition of the Second Injury Fund. Such report shall include (1) an estimate of the
fund's unfunded liability as of the preceding July first; (2) the effect of settlements and
stipulations on the unfunded liability; (3) the number and amount of assessments levied
under section 31-354 for the previous fiscal year; (4) the number and amount of such
assessments projected for the coming year; and (5) any recommendations for legislative
change to improve the operation or financing of the fund.

(1) "Insured employer" means an employer who insures its risks incurred under
this chapter with an insurance company authorized to issue workers' compensation
policies in this state by the Insurance Department, and includes any member of a workers' compensation pool administered by an interlocal risk management agency, and on
and after January 1, 2005, an employer mutual association organized prior to June 6,
1996, with a membership composed exclusively of health care providers and whose
premium base is derived entirely from health care organizations.

(2) "Self-insured employer" means an employer who is approved to self-insure its
liabilities under this chapter by the chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission. For the period commencing October 1, 2004, and ending December 31, 2004,
"self-insured employer" includes an employer mutual association organized prior to
June 6, 1996, with a membership composed exclusively of health care providers and
whose premium base is derived entirely from health care organizations.

(3) "Paid losses" means the total indemnity, medical and any other expenses, prior
to any credits or deductions being taken, paid on or after January 1, 2006, by or on behalf
of an employer to or on behalf of an injured employee. Paid losses includes all legal
expenses paid for the benefit of an injured worker in accordance with this chapter and
any loss payments within deductible limits on workers' compensation policies.

(5) "Direct written premium" includes all endorsements, retrospective adjustments,
audits and minimum premium and shall be determined without regard to when or
whether the premium on the policy is paid.

(6) "Second Injury Fund surcharge" for insurance companies, interlocal risk management agencies and self-insurance groups means the rate set by the custodian
multiplied by the Second Injury Fund surcharge base.

(7) "Self-insurance group" means a not-for-profit association consisting of fifteen
or more employers who are engaged in the same or similar type of business, who are
members of the same bona fide trade or professional association which has been in
existence for not less than five years, and who enter into agreements to pool their liabilities for workers' compensation benefits and employers' liability.

(b) The State Treasurer, in consultation with the Insurance Commissioner, may
adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, regarding the method
of assessing all employers for the liabilities of the Second Injury Fund. The liabilities
shall be allocated between self-insured employers and insured employers based on a
percentage of paid losses for the preceding calendar year for each group. No credits
shall be taken against paid losses, except voided checks in connection with expenses
paid under this chapter previously reported as a paid loss, recoveries from third party
tortfeasors, reimbursement granted pursuant to section 31-299b and Second Injury Fund
reimbursements. The method of assessment for self-insured employers shall be based on
paid losses. The method of assessment for insured employers, for policies with effective
dates before July 1, 2006, shall be based on the standard premium, and for policies
with effective dates on or after July 1, 2006, shall be based on the Second Injury Fund
surcharge base. In adopting regulations under this section, the State Treasurer shall
consider their effect upon (1) the cost of doing business in this state, (2) the overall
cost of the workers' compensation system, (3) the effect of the regulations on insurers,
insureds and self-insured employers, and (4) the financial condition and liabilities of
the fund.

(c) An employer mutual association organized prior to June 6, 1996, with a membership composed exclusively of health care providers and whose premium base is derived
entirely from health care organizations may make payments without penalty or interest
over a five-year period for any outstanding assessment due from the association for the
period commencing January 1, 1996, and ending December 31, 2004.

(d) (1) For insured employers and self-insurance groups, the Second Injury Fund
surcharge base shall initially be reported to the fund in the quarter of the effective date
of the policy, regardless of when the policy is billed by the insurance carrier or self-insurance group or paid by the policyholder or member of a self-insurance group. All
endorsements, retrospective adjustments and audits shall be reported in the quarter processed by the insurance carrier or group self-insured employer.

(2) The custodian of the fund shall conduct an audit or periodic audits of any self-insured employer, group self-insured employer, insured employer or insurance company
acting as collection agent of the Second Injury Fund relative to any information or
payment required by the custodian. The employer and insurer shall provide all necessary
documents and information in relation to an audit by the custodian in a manner prescribed
by the Treasurer. The period of review of an audit shall be not more than three years,
except that when the date of the previous audit is less than three years prior to such
audit, the period of review shall be to the date of such prior audit. If the audit determines
repeated errors or underreporting by an employer or an insurer acting as collection agent
of the Second Injury Fund, the fund reserves the right to audit an additional two-year
review period. Upon the determination of the Treasurer or the Treasurer's agents, as a
result of an audit, that an employer or an insurer acting as collection agent of the Second
Injury Fund has not properly reported to the Second Injury Fund and, as a result, has
underpaid the assessment or surcharge, the employer or the insurer acting as collection
agent of the Second Injury Fund, upon notice from the Treasurer or the Treasurer's
agent, shall pay the full amount of the underpaid assessment or surcharge, along with
interest and any penalty due not later than thirty days after such notice.

(e) For purposes of collection of the Second Injury Fund surcharge from insureds
and payment of such surcharge to the Second Injury Fund, insurance companies shall
be deemed to be collection agents of the Second Injury Fund. The insured employer is
liable for payment of the surcharge, and the insurance company shall collect such payment and remit it to the Second Injury Fund in accordance with section 31-354. Insurance
companies shall be subject to the audit provisions of this section and shall be subject to
the penalty and interest provisions of this section for failure to remit the surcharge to
the Second Injury Fund.

Sec. 31-349h. Transfer of claims. Claims not transferred. All transfers of claims
to the Second Injury Fund with a date of injury prior to July 1, 1995, shall be effected
no later than July 1, 1999. All claims not transferred to the Second Injury Fund, on or
before July 1, 1999, shall remain the responsibility of the employer or its insurer.

(P.A. 96-242, S. 2, 10.)

History: P.A. 96-242 effective June 6, 1996.

Deadline of July 1,1999, re transfer of claims applies only to claims where eligibility for transfer is not in question on
said date. 257 C. 481.

Sec. 31-349i. Cost-saving methodologies. The custodian of the Second Injury
Fund may implement cost-saving methodologies within the existing prescription drug
program but shall not mandate the use of a mail order pharmacy by the claimant.

Sec. 31-352. Enforcement of liability of third person. The provisions of section
31-293 shall apply to any payments from the Second Injury Fund and the Treasurer is
authorized to bring an action, or join in an action as provided by said section, when he
has paid, or by award has become obligated to pay, compensation out of the fund.

Sec. 31-353. Voluntary agreements; approval. If the Treasurer and an injured
employee, or his legal representative, reach an agreement in regard to compensation
payable under the provisions of this chapter, such agreement shall be submitted in writing to the commissioner for his approval and, upon approval, shall remain in effect until
otherwise ordered by the commissioner. The Treasurer may make payment by way of
final settlement in any matter concerning the fund, including matters under section 31-355, subject to the approval of the commissioner, whenever it is for the best interests
of the injured employee.

Sec. 31-354. Second Injury Fund contributions. Duties and powers of State
Treasurer. (a) There shall be a fund to be known as the Second Injury Fund. Each
employer, other than the state, shall, within thirty days after notice given by the State
Treasurer, pay to the State Treasurer for the use of the state a sum in payment of his
liability under this chapter which shall be calculated in accordance with the Second
Injury Fund surcharge base, as defined in section 31-349g, and shall be assessed in
accordance with subsection (f) of section 31-349, sections 31-349g, 31-349h and 31-349i, this section, section 31-354b and sections 8 and 9 of public act 96-242*. Such sum
shall be an amount sufficient to (1) pay the debt service on state revenue bond obligations
authorized to be issued under and for the purposes set forth in section 31-354b including
reserve and covenant coverage requirements, (2) provide for costs and expenses of operating the Second Injury Fund, and (3) pay Second Injury Fund stipulations on claims
settled by the custodian or other benefits payable out of the Second Injury Fund and not
funded through state revenue bond obligations and shall be determined in accordance
with the regulations adopted pursuant to the provisions of section 31-349g. The custodian shall establish a factor for the annual surcharge that caps such surcharge for the
fiscal years ending June 30, 1996, 1997 and 1998. In determining such factor the custodian shall consider the funding mechanism authorized by subsection (f) of section 31-349, sections 31-349g, 31-349h and 31-349i, this section, section 31-354b and sections
8 and 9 of public act 96-242*, recognize that an acceptable level of employer assessment
is important to the vitality of the economy of the state and nevertheless shall assure
provision of services to injured workers that enhances their ability to return to work and
improve their quality of life. In any event, such factor shall not exceed, with respect to
insured employers, a rate of fifteen per cent on the Second Injury Fund surcharge base
with respect to workers' compensation and employers' liability policies and, with respect to self-insured employers, a comparable percentage limitation representing their
pro rata share of any assessment. Any employer or any insurance company acting as
collection agent for the custodian of the Second Injury Fund who fails to pay in accordance with such regulations shall pay a penalty to the State Treasurer of fifteen per cent
on the unpaid assessment or surcharge or fifty dollars, whichever is greater. Interest at
the rate of six per cent per annum shall be charged on any amounts owed on assessment
audits or surcharge audits. For self-insured employers interest shall accrue thirty days
after notice from the Second Injury Fund of the unpaid audit assessment. For insurance
companies, the interest shall accrue from the date of the notice of audit errors or deficiencies as determined by the date postmarked by the United States Postal Service. The State
Treasurer shall notify each employer of the penalty or interest provision with the notice
of assessment. Any partial payments made to the fund shall be first applied to any unpaid
penalty, then to any unpaid interest and the remainder, if any, to the unpaid assessment
or surcharge. Interest or penalties shall be applied if assessment or surcharge reports or
payments are postmarked by the United States Postal Service after the designated due
date. The sums received shall be accounted for separately and apart from all other state
moneys and the faith and credit of the state of Connecticut is pledged for their safekeeping. The State Treasurer shall be the custodian of the fund and all disbursements from
the fund shall be made by the Treasurer or the Treasurer's deputies. The moneys of the
fund shall be invested by the Treasurer in accordance with applicable law and section
8 of public act 96-242*. Interest, income and dividends from the investments shall be
credited to the fund. Each employer, each private insurance carrier acting on behalf
of any employer and each interlocal risk management agency acting on behalf of any
employer shall annually, on or before April first, report to the State Treasurer, in the
form prescribed by the State Treasurer, the amount of money expended by or on behalf
of the employer in payments for the preceding calendar year. Each private insurance
carrier, each self-insurance group and each interlocal risk management agency shall
submit annually, on or before April first, to the State Treasurer, in the form prescribed
by the State Treasurer, a report of the total Second Injury Fund surcharge base collected
in the preceding calendar year and a report of the projected total Second Injury Fund
surcharge base for the current calendar year. The fund shall be used to provide the
benefits set forth in section 31-306 for adjustments in the compensation rate and payment
of certain death benefits, in section 31-307b for adjustments where there are relapses
after a return to work, in section 31-307c for totally disabled persons injured prior to
October 1, 1953, in section 31-349 for disabled or handicapped employees and in section
31-355 for the payment of benefits due injured employees whose employers or insurance
carriers have failed to pay the compensation, and medical expenses required by this
chapter, or any other compensation payable from the fund as may be required by any
provision contained in this chapter or any other statute and to reimburse employers or
insurance carriers for payments made under subsection (b) of section 31-307a. The
assessment required by this section is a condition of doing business in this state and
failure to pay the assessment, when due, shall result in the denial of the privilege of
doing business in this state or to self-insure under section 31-284. Any administrative
or other costs or expenses incurred by the State Treasurer in connection with carrying
out the provisions of this part, including the hiring of necessary employees, shall be
paid from the fund. The State Treasurer may adopt regulations, in accordance with the
provisions of chapter 54, prescribing the practices, policies and procedures to be followed in the administration of the Second Injury Fund.

(b) The State Treasurer shall establish within the Second Injury Fund three accounts
to be known as the operating account, the settlement account and the finance account
which accounts shall be held separate and apart from each other. The operating account
shall cover the costs and expenses to the state of operating the Second Injury Fund. The
settlement account shall cover actual disbursement of the settled claims whether by one-time full payments or by payments over a period of time. The finance account shall
contain such funds and be operated in the manner provided in section 31-354b.

*Note: Sections 8 and 9 of public act 96-242 are special in nature and therefore have not been codified but remain in
full force and effect according to their terms.

History: 1959 act created second injury and compensation assurance fund and transferred assets of second injury fund
to it on October 1, 1959; 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; 1967 act required that fund be maintained at
$100,000 level rather than $50,000 level; 1969 act required self-insurers to pay 1.5% rather than 1% of their liability
payments for preceding year, increased level at which to be maintained to $250,000, specified uses to which fund is to be
put and required payment of assessment as a condition of doing business in state; 1971 act made provisions applicable to
mutual insurance companies; 1972 act required payment of assessment within 30 days after notice by treasurer rather than
"annually on or before July first", increased payments to not more than 2% of preceding year's liability payments and
replaced requirements re $250,000 level to be maintained in fund with provision allowing treasurer to make assessments
to cover expenditure and maintain fund at $500,000 level; P.A. 77-119 increased assessment rate to 3.5%; P.A. 77-554
specified that funds be used for adjustments in compensation rate; P.A. 79-376 replaced "workmen's compensation" with
"workers' compensation"; P.A. 81-469 provided that the amount of money expended by a carrier in payment of the state's
liabilities under this chapter shall be exempted when calculating the payment due under section; P.A. 82-472 made a
technical correction; P.A. 85-189 provided that each employer, other than the state and certain municipalities, is liable for
assessments levied by the state treasurer to fund the second injury and compensation assurance fund; P.A. 86-21 provided
that assessments shall be levied by the state treasurer against employers on whose behalf the second injury fund has made
payments pursuant to Sec. 31-355; P.A. 86-25 increased the maximum assessment from 3.5% to 5% and increased the
fund's minimum reserve from $500,000 to $1,000,000; P.A. 87-277 added provision re payment from fund of costs or
expenses incurred by treasurer in carrying out provisions of part E of chapter 568; P.A. 87-589 changed effective date of
P.A. 87-277 from July 1, 1988, to July 1, 1987; P.A. 88-29 added an interest penalty to be imposed on any employer who
fails to make payment of an assessment when due to the second injury fund under the Workers' Compensation Act; P.A.
89-68 provided that the fund shall be used to provide the benefits set forth in Sec. 31-306(c); P.A. 90-230 corrected an
omission; P.A. 90-311 removed the exemption from payment for municipalities participating in interlocal risk management
agencies, effective July 1, 1991; P.A. 91-32 made technical changes; P.A. 91-339 added provisions re payments to the
fund by the treasurer on behalf of the state and deleted reference to dependency allowance; P.A. 93-228 raised the amount
of money to be contributed to the second injury fund by the state treasurer on behalf of the state from 5% of expenditures
to the total amount of expenditures, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-429 authorized the state treasurer to adopt regulations
re administrative practices, policies and procedures for the second injury fund, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-277 added
a requirement that each private insurance carrier and each interlocal risk management agency annually submit to the
Treasurer a report of the total standard earned premium collected in the preceding calendar year, effective June 29, 1995,
and replaced provisions detailing funding of Second Injury Fund by employer contributions with provision authorizing
Treasurer to develop such policies re determination of employers' contributions through regulations, effective January 1,
1996; P.A. 96-242 made existing language Subsec. (a) and made technical change concerning the reference to the State
Treasurer, added provisions on the special assessment premium surcharge, specified April first as annual report deadline
and required report to include projected total standard earned premium and added Subsec. (b) requiring State Treasurer to
establish three accounts within the Second Injury Fund, effective June 6, 1996; P.A. 05-199 amended Subsec. (a) by
substituting "calculated in accordance with the Second Injury Fund surcharge base" for "the special assessment premium
surcharge" and "Second Injury Fund surcharge base" for "standard premiums", subjecting insurance companies acting as
collection agents for fund to penalty for failure to pay assessment, changing penalty to 15% or minimum of $50 on unpaid
assessment or surcharge, and interest at 6% per annum on amounts owed on assessment or surcharge audits, to accrue 30
days after notice of unpaid audit assessment from fund for self-insured employers and from date of notice of audit errors
or deficiencies for insurance companies, requiring Treasurer to notify employers of interest provision with notice of assessment, deleting requirement that State Treasurer, upon levy of assessment, pay to fund sum not to exceed total amount of
money expended on behalf of state employees during period following last assessment, providing for application of partial
payments, requiring each self-insurance group to submit annual report to Treasurer of projected total Second Injury Fund
surcharge base for current calendar year and making technical changes, effective July 1, 2006; P.A. 10-11 amended Subsec.
(a) by deleting "or a minimum of fifty dollars" and adding "or fifty dollars, whichever is greater" re penalty for failure to
pay in accordance with regulations, effective May 5, 2010.

See Sec. 31-289 re deposit of certain fines and penalties in Second Injury and Compensation Assurance Fund.

Sec. 31-354a. Assistant administrators of the Second Injury Fund. (a) The
Treasurer may, in his discretion, appoint not more than four assistant administrators as
necessary to assist him in carrying out his duties as custodian of the Second Injury Fund
under section 31-354. Such assistant administrators shall be in the unclassified service
and shall serve at the pleasure of the Treasurer. Such assistant administrators shall be
sworn to the faithful discharge of their duties and shall perform such functions relating
to the administration of the Second Injury Fund under sections 31-275 to 31-355a, inclusive, as the Treasurer may direct.

(b) Any administrative and personnel costs incurred pursuant to subsection (a) of
this section shall be paid from the Second Injury Fund.

Sec. 31-354b. Finance account within Second Injury Fund. Subaccounts. Duties of State Treasurer. (a) There is established within the Second Injury Fund an
account to be known as the finance account. The account shall be administered by the
State Treasurer as a trust fund in, and accounted for as an account within, the Second
Injury Fund. The State Treasurer may enter into contracts that may be useful to the
organization, establishment, operation and administration of the account. The finance
account shall be funded, first, with state revenue bond proceeds and interest income or
income earned on investment of moneys for disbursement purposes and, second, from
the special assessment premium surcharges for payment of debt service and reserve
requirements. All costs of organizing, establishing and operating the account, including
the costs of personnel and contractual services and establishing billing and collection
procedures, shall be a charge upon and paid by the State Treasurer from the account
unless the State Treasurer otherwise determines to pay such costs from the operating
account.

(b) There is established within the finance account (1) a single cost of issuance
and finance administration subaccount, (2) a bond proceeds subaccount, and (3) a debt
service and reserve subaccount, which subaccounts shall be held separate and apart from
each other. Additional subaccounts may be established by the State Treasurer as he
deems necessary.

(c) There shall be deposited in the bond proceeds subaccount proceeds of revenue
bonds issued in accordance with section 8 of public act 96-242* for application, in
accordance with the bond authorization documentation for one or more of the following
purposes: (1) To pay in full the settlement of certain claims, including any interest due
thereon; (2) to provide cash advances for payment of other claims pending receipt of
anticipated current year assessments therefor; and (3) to provide for cost of issuance,
capitalized interest, if necessary, reinsurance premiums, if any, and other cash flow
requirements.

(d) There shall be deposited in the debt service and reserve subaccount, in accordance with the proceeding authorizing the bonds, the proceeds of the issuance of revenue
bonds which are expected to be applied as capitalized interest to the extent required
prior to receipt of special assessment premium surcharges and to provide for a reserve
which shall not exceed the maximum debt service in any year.

(e) There shall be deposited in the cost of issuance and finance administration subaccount: (1) The proceeds of revenue bonds expected to be deposited into the said subaccount; and (2) any additional money received from employers in payment of special
assessment premium surcharges established in accordance with section 31-354 to offset
the costs and expenses of administering and operating the finance account.

(f) Investment earnings credited to the assets of the finance account and to any
subaccount within the account shall become part of the assets of the Second Injury
Fund and applied in accordance with the bond authorization documents. Any balance
remaining in the account at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward in the
account and subaccount for the next fiscal year.

(g) Upon the issuance of revenue bonds and to the extent there are sufficient proceeds or other amounts in the finance account available therefor, the State Treasurer
may withdraw from the finance account, in accordance with the bond authorization
documents amounts determined to be necessary for the purposes of section 9 of public
act 96-242*. The State Treasurer shall, from time to time and at least annually, determine
the amount of interest, amortization, reserve and associated costs required for the finance
account under this section and such amounts shall be assessed as a special assessment
premium surcharge as provided in section 31-354.

(h) Unless the context requires a different meaning, the term "bonds" or "revenue
bonds" under this section and section 8 of public act 96-242* includes notes issued in
anticipation of the issuance of revenue bonds or notes issued pursuant to a commercial
paper program.

(P.A. 96-242, S. 7, 10.)

*Note: Sections 8 and 9 of public act 96-242 are special in nature and therefore have not been codified but remain in
full force and effect according to their terms.

(b) When an award of compensation has been made under the provisions of this
chapter against an employer who failed, neglected, refused or is unable to pay any type
of benefit coming due as a consequence of such award or any adjustment in compensation
required by this chapter, and whose insurer failed, neglected, refused or is unable to pay
the compensation, such compensation shall be paid from the Second Injury Fund. The
commissioner, on a finding of failure or inability to pay compensation, shall give notice
to the Treasurer of the award, directing the Treasurer to make payment from the fund.
Whenever liability to pay compensation is contested by the Treasurer, the Treasurer
shall file with the commissioner, on or before the twenty-eighth day after the Treasurer
has received an order of payment from the commissioner, a notice in accordance with
a form prescribed by the chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission stating
that the right to compensation is contested, the name of the claimant, the name of the
employer, the date of the alleged injury or death and the specific grounds on which the
right to compensation is contested. A copy of the notice shall be sent to the employee.
The commissioner shall hold a hearing on such contested liability at the request of
the Treasurer or the employee in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. If the
Treasurer fails to file the notice contesting liability within the time prescribed in this
section, the Treasurer shall be conclusively presumed to have accepted the compensability of such alleged injury or death from the Second Injury Fund and shall have no right
thereafter to contest the employee's right to receive compensation on any grounds or
contest the extent of the employee's disability.

(c) The employer and the insurer, if any, shall be liable to the state for any payments
made out of the fund in accordance with this section or which the Treasurer has by
award become obligated to make from the fund, together with cost of attorneys' fees
as fixed by the court. If reimbursement is not made, or a plan for payment to the fund
has not been agreed to by the Treasurer and employer, not later than ninety days after
any payment from the fund, the Attorney General shall bring a civil action, in the superior
court for the judicial district where the award was made, to recover all amounts paid by
the fund pursuant to the award, plus double damages together with reasonable attorney's
fees and costs as taxed by the court. Any amount paid to the Treasurer by the employer
or insurer after the filing of an action, but prior to its completion, shall be subject to an
interest charge of eighteen per cent per annum, calculated from the date of original
payment from the fund.

(d) Any recovery made under this section, including any recovery for costs or attorney's fees, shall be paid into the fund. Any administrative or other costs or expenses
incurred by the Attorney General in connection with carrying out the purposes of this
section, including the hiring of necessary employees, shall be paid from the fund. The
Treasurer shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, which
describe what constitutes a proper and sufficient "plan for payment to the fund" for the
purposes of this section.

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) to (d), inclusive, of this section, whenever the employer's insurer has been determined to be insolvent, as defined
in section 38a-838, payments required under this section shall be the obligation of the
Connecticut Insurance Guaranty Association pursuant to the provisions of sections 38a-836 to 38a-853, inclusive.

(f) Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, the commissioner may approve
a stipulated settlement for benefits between an injured worker and the Treasurer under
this chapter at any time prior to or after the issuance of a finding and award against the
employer if the commissioner determines that it is in the best interest of the injured
workers to do so. Notice of the proposed settlement shall be sent to the employer by
certified mail, return receipt requested, to the employer's last known address on file
with the Secretary of the State or local postal authority. The commissioner shall hold a
hearing on such proposed settlement at the request of the employer in accordance with
the provisions of this chapter. If the employer does not file with the Workers' Compensation Commission a written objection to the proposed settlement not later than twenty-eight days after the date of the notice to the employer of the proposed settlement, the
employer shall be deemed to have consented to the proposed settlement and may not
thereafter contest the terms of the settlement in any forum. Where payment has been
ordered under this subsection, the terms of such order shall have the same status and be
governed by the same provisions as an award issued pursuant to subsection (b) of this
section.

(g) Nothing in this section shall preclude the Treasurer from entering into an
agreement with the employer for the reimbursement of expenses, costs or benefits paid
by the fund. The Treasurer, the uninsured employer, the injured worker, or the injured
worker's beneficiaries, or a third party who is liable under section 31-293 may enter
into a settlement agreement to finally or partially settle the rights and liabilities of any
or all parties under this chapter, subject to the approval of the commissioner.

(h) When a finding and award of compensation has been made against an uninsured
employer who fails to pay it, that compensation shall be paid from the Second Injury
Fund, and if there are further claims for any related, reasonable and necessary treatment,
payment shall by provided to the claimant without a subsequent finding and award.

History: 1961 act entirely replaced previous provisions; 1969 act specified benefits to be considered as "compensation";
P.A. 85-349 required the attorney general to bring a civil action for reimbursement of the payments made by the fund, and
assessed an interest charge of 18% on delinquent payments; P.A. 86-35 provided that any recovery of moneys pursuant
to this section be paid into the second injury fund, that outside counsel may be used for reimbursement procedures and
paid for from the fund, that treasurer may agree to a reimbursement payment plan in lieu of civil action, and that payments
due from an insolvent workers' compensation insurer be the obligation of the Connecticut Insurance Guaranty Association;
P.A. 87-277 deleted provision re payment from fund of compensation for outside counsel and substituted provision re
payment from fund of costs or expenses incurred by attorney general in carrying out purposes of section; P.A. 87-589
changed effective date of P.A. 87-277 from July 1, 1988 to July 1, 1987; P.A. 91-32 made technical changes, added new
Subsec. (a), divided existing Subsec. (a) into Subsecs. (b) to (d), inclusive, and redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec.
(e); P.A. 91-207 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provisions re notice whenever liability to pay compensation is contested
by the treasurer; P.A. 92-31 made technical changes in Subsec. (b); P.A. 05-199 made technical changes in Subsecs. (a)
to (c), amended Subsec. (b) to impose liability on Second Injury Fund for employer and insurer who neglected or refused
to pay award of compensation and replace references to specific unpaid benefits with "any type of benefit coming due as
a consequence of such award", added Subsec. (f) re approval by commissioner of stipulated settlement between injured
worker and Treasurer, added Subsec. (g) re settlement agreements and added Subsec. (h) re payment from fund of award
of compensation against uninsured employer and payment of further claims without subsequent finding and award, effective
July 1, 2006.

Where injury complained of occurred prior to effective date of number 580 of the 1959 public acts, and award in favor
of injured employee was made subsequent to that date, provisions of act apply to award so as to require state treasurer to
pay it. 150 C. 153. "Second injury fund", legislative history and purpose discussed. 166 C. 352. Cited. 171 C. 577. Cited.
174 C. 181. Cited. 187 C. 53. Cited. 210 C. 626. Cited. 212 C. 427. Legislature intended that fund would be liable if an
employer were bankrupt, in which case no judgment could enter against it. 256 C. 456. Commissioner's ability to enter
an award against employer's estate for the purpose of establishing fund's liability when a claim against the estate is barred
by the nonclaim statute is necessary for the operation of this section. Id. Commissioner need not determine whether a claim
against an employer's estate is barred by the nonclaim statute before entering an award against the estate or ordering fund
to make payments. Id.

Cited. 24 CA 93. Cited. 37 CA 835. Cited. 46 CA 346; Id., 596.

Cited. 28 CS 5.

Subsec. (b):

Purpose of section is to provide compensation for injured employee when employer fails to pay; section does not make
distinctions concerning reasons for employer's failure to pay. 256 C. 456. No duty is imposed on commissioner to determine
reasons for employer's failure to pay before imposing liability on the fund. Id. There is no requirement that commissioner
provide the fund with opportunity to contest liability in every case where an order to make payment is entered against the
fund, regardless of whether the fund participated in prior proceedings. Id.

Subsec. (c):

Employer and its insurer are liable to reimburse the fund for any payment made to an employee. 256 C. 456.

Sec. 31-355a. Collection of moneys owed to the Second Injury Fund. Tax warrants. Lien. Foreclosure. (a) Whenever the Second Injury Fund is required, pursuant
to section 31-355 or subsection (c) of section 31-349, to pay benefits or compensation
mandated by the provisions of this chapter for any employer or insurer who fails or is
unable to make such payments, the amount so paid by the fund shall be collectible by
any means provided by law for the collection of any tax due the state of Connecticut or
any subdivision thereof, including any means provided by section 12-35. Tax warrants
referred to in said section 12-35 may be signed by the State Treasurer.

(b) Any such amount due shall be a lien from the due date until discharged by
payment against all the property of the employer or insurer within the state, whether real
or personal, except such as is exempt from execution, including debts to the employer or
insurer, and a certificate of such lien without specifically describing such real or personal
property, signed by the State Treasurer, may be filed in the office of the clerk of any
town in which such real property is situated, or, in the case of personal property, in the
office of the Secretary of the State, which lien shall be effective from the date on which
it is recorded. When any such amount with respect to which a lien has been recorded
under the provisions of this section has been satisfied, the State Treasurer, upon request
of any interested party, shall issue a certificate discharging such lien. Any action for the
foreclosure of such lien shall be brought by the Attorney General in the name of the
state in the superior court for the judicial district in which the property subject to such
lien is situated or, if such property is located in two or more judicial districts, in the
superior court for any one such judicial district and the court may limit the time for
redemption or order the sale of such property or pass such other or further decree as it
judges equitable. When the property to be liened is concealed in the hands of an agent
or trustee so that it cannot be found or attached, or is a debt due to the employer, the
certificate of lien may be filed by leaving a copy thereof with such agent, trustee or
debtor, or by mailing to him a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, and from the
time of the receipt of such lien all the effects of the employer or insurer in the hands of
such agent or trustee and any debt due from such debtor to the employer or insurer shall
be secured in the hands of such agent, trustee or debtor to pay the amount secured by
such lien. The payment by such agent, trustee or debtor to the State Treasurer shall
discharge him of his liability to the employer or insurer to the extent thereof. The State
Treasurer may require such agent, trustee or debtor to disclose under oath within ten
days whether he has in his hands the goods or effects of the employer or insurer or is
indebted to him. If such agent, trustee or debtor fails to disclose or, having disclosed,
fails to turn over such effects or pay to the State Treasurer the amount of his indebtedness
to the employer or insurer, the lien shall have the effect of a judgment and the State
Treasurer may proceed against him by scire facias taken out from the clerk of the superior
court for the judicial district of Hartford in the manner provided in chapter 905 for scire
facias against a garnishee.

History: P.A. 88-47 added the reference to Subsec. (c) of Sec. 31-349; P.A. 88-230 replaced "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain" with "judicial district of Hartford", effective September 1, 1991; P.A. 88-364 made a technical change in
Subsec. (b); P.A. 90-98 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; P.A.
91-207 made a technical change to fund's name in Subsec. (a); P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230
from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A.
88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995.